Show FBI reports decrease in 1 reported crime The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported Oct 19 the volume of reported crimes measured by the FBI's Crime In- In Index Index dex during the first six months of 1982 was five percent lower than in the first half of 1981 The total of reported crimes after reaching an time all high in 1980 had held at that level during 1981 While this apparent reversal is en- en encouraging encouraging Attorney General William French Smith said the fact that the all all- time high was reached and maintained for a year two period should be of major concern to the nation Director of the FBI William H Webster remarked this drop in reported crime Is the first month six decrease the nation has experienced since 1978 1178 In that year we had a two per per- percent percent cent decrease when the first six months were compared to the same period in 1977 The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting statistics released Tuesday indicated the number of crimes of violence counted by bythe bythe the Crime murder Index forcible rape robbery and aggravated was assault three percent lower in the first half of 1982 than in the first half of 1981 The more numerous property crimes crimes- burglary theft larceny and motor vehicle ele cle theft tell by six percent from the level of a year earlier The 1982 semi annual figures for the in- in individual Individual violent crimes showed murder was down eight percent in volume rob rob- robbery bery decreased seven percent and forcible for for- forcible cible rape was down six percent Ag- Ag Aggravated Aggravated assault was the only Crime In- In Index Index dex Offense to experience an increase in volume and that was one percent Ag- Ag Aggravated Aggravated assault is a crime that occurs with great frequency consequently the upturn in this offense tended to influence the overall violent crime picture Each of the property crimes registered declines The number of burglaries was down it 11 percent while theft larceny a and d motor vehicle theft each decreased by three percent Geographically the decreases in reported Crime Index offenses ranged from a nine percent drop in the Nor Nor- Northeastern and North Central regions of the country to two percent in the South The Western States experienced a percent 3 decrease The nations nation's rural areas recorded an 11 percent decline in inthe inthe the number of Index crimes the suburban ban areas an eight percent decrease cities with populations over a three percent drop and cities outside metropolitan areas a six percent decline The crime of arson which in recent years has been designated a Crime In- In Index Index dex offense continues to be a concern of the law enforcement community In the first six months of 1982 there was a decrease of 17 percent when that year was compared to the same period of last year |