The nation experienced a 3.5 percent decline in violent crime and a 2.5 percent decline in property crime in 2008, according to the FBI’s Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report.
The newly released report, which is based on information provided by law enforcement agencies from January through June 2008, shows a 1.2-percent decrease in larceny thefts and 0.8-percent decrease in burglaries when compared to 2007.
The only region to experience an increase (1.7 percent) in the number of property crimes was the Northeast. Property crimes declined 6.1 percent in the West, 4.7 percent in the Midwest, and 0.4 percent in the South.
By offense, the number of burglaries increased 2.7 percent in the Northeast and 0.6 percent in the South. However, the number of burglaries declined 4.4 percent in the West and 1.0 percent in the Midwest.
Nationwide, reported arsons, which are tracked separately from other property crimes, declined 5.6 percent during the first half of 2008 when compared with data from the same time frame in 2007.
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