Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Violent crime dropped overall in the first six months of this year, although the number of murders increased, the FBI said Monday.
The 1.3 percent drop in violent crime continued a nine-year decline but was less than in recent years.
Murders, after declining 1.1 percent in 2000, were up by 0.3 percent in the first half of the year.
Among other violent crimes, robberies rose 0.8 percent, rapes declined by 1.7 percent and aggravated assaults fell 2.4 percent from January to June of this year compared to the first half of 2000. Property crimes, including burglary and car theft, fell 0.2 percent.
Crime varied by region. It fell by 4 percent in the Northeast and 2 percent in the Midwest, while it rose by 1.6 percent in the West and 0.8 percent in the South.
The semiannual report by the FBI is a preliminary snapshot of crime in America during the first half of the year.
With the economic downturn that was exacerbated by the attacks of Sept. 11, crime will likely begin to increase, they say.
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