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FBI Releases the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June 2009 Figures for New York City

FBI New York December 22, 2009

Preliminary figures indicate that, as a whole, law enforcement agencies throughout the nation reported a decrease of 4.4 percent in the number of violent crimes brought to their attention for the first six months of 2009 when compared with figures reported for the same time in 2008. The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The number of property crimes in the United States from January to June of 2009 decreased 6.1 percent when compared with data from the same time period in 2008. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Arson is also a property crime, but data for arson are not included in property crime totals. Figures for 2009 indicate that arson decreased 8.2 percent when compared to 2008 figures from the same time period.

Violent Crime

  • All four of the offenses that make up violent crime (murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) decreased nationwide. Murder declined 10.0 percent, robbery fell 6.5 percent, forcible rape declined 3.5 percent, and aggravated assault declined 3.2 percent. 
  • In New York City, violent crime decreased overall by 8 percent. Murder declined 19 percent, robbery by 15.6 percent, forcible rape declined by 16.7 percent, and aggravated assault dropped 1.3 percent. 

Property Crime

  • Overall in the nation, there were decreases in each type of property crime, which includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Motor vehicle theft dropped 18.7 percent, larceny-theft decreased 5.3 percent, and burglary declined 2.5 percent for the two six-month periods.
  • In New York City, property crime dropped by 6.2 percent overall. Motor vehicle theft dropped 12 percent, larceny-theft fell by 5 percent, and burglary decreased by 10 percent.

Arson

  • The number of reported arsons, which are tracked separately from other property crimes, declined 8.2 percent nationwide during the first half of 2009 when compared with data from the first half of 2008. All of the city population groups reported decreases in the number of arsons. Cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants had the largest decrease at 12.7 percent. Arson fell 11.7 percent in metropolitan counties but rose 1.2 percent in nonmetropolitan counties. Law enforcement agencies in all four regions reported declines in the number of arsons, ranging from 9.2 percent in the Northeast to 7.5 percent in the South.
  • No arsons were reported during this period for New York City.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Joseph Demarest said: “The collaborative efforts of our local and state law enforcement authorities have directly contributed to this decrease in criminal activity. As law enforcement partners, we are all actively working together to protect our citizens and communities. I look forward to continued cooperation and increased safety for the citizens of New York City and its surrounding areas.”

The complete Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report is available exclusively at www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm.

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