OCR Text |
Show Violent Crimes decreasing Serious crime in the United States rose two percent during the first nine months of 1976 over the same period of 1975, Attorney General Edward H. Levi announced an-nounced this week. But he noted that violent crimes continued to decrease. Levi said that the overall rise of two percen compares with an increase of 11 percent during the first nine months of 1975 over 11974. The latest nine-month figures represent the lowest increase nationally since 1973, when reported serious criminal offenses rose only one percent over 1972. Violent crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, as a group, decreased five percent during the first nine months. Murder and robbery each decreased 10 percent, while forcible rape and aggravated assault showed no change. Larceny-theft was the only crime index offense to show an increase for the nine-month reporting period. Larceny-theft was up eight percent, while burglary decreased five percent and motor vehicle theft was down six percent. Levi noted, "There has been a steady slowing in the percent of increase for the last nine months and it is, of course, gratifying that violent crimes as a group, continue to show an absolute decrease. But the basic fact we mustn't forget is that crime still remains an urgent national problem." According to these latest figures, suburban and rural law enforcement agencies reported increases in serious crime of one percent, while cities with 100,000 or more inhabitants had a two percent rise in reported crime index offenses. Geographically, the Northeastern Nor-theastern States reported an eight percent increase in crime. The Western States were up two percent, and the Southern States increased one percent. Crime in the North Central States decreased one percent. Seventy-six cities of over 100,000 inhabitants reported decreases in serious crime during the first nine months of 1976. |