Crime in the United States
The Preliminary Stats for 2006
The Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, has released preliminary crime
statistics for 2006. Nationwide, violent crime in the U.S. increased 1.3 percent
and property crime decreased 2.9 percent over 2005.
The stats, which the FBI collected from more than 11,700 law enforcement agencies
nationwide, show a rise in violent crime for the second straight year. The
increase, however, is less than the 2.3 percent figure reported for 2005 and
the 3.7 percent increase reflected in the preliminary six-month report for
2006 released in December.
A snapshot of the other key numbers for the full year:
Violent Crime
Murder: Is up 0.3 percent overall. The number of offenses increased the most—6.7
percent—in cities with a million or more residents and decreased the
most—11.9 percent—in non-metropolitan counties.
Forcible rape: Decreased nearly 2 percent overall. Only two population categories
experienced increases, both with populations less than 100,000.
Robbery: Rose 6 percent, the highest increase in any violent or property crime
category. Each population group except non-metropolitan counties saw an increase.
Aggravated assault: Experienced a slight overall drop of 0.7 percent. The
largest cities experienced the greatest declines.
Regional breakdown: Three of four geographic regions (except the Northeast)
showed violent crime increases. The largest increase was in the West, with
2.8 percent.
Property Crime
Burglary: Increased slightly, 0.2 percent. The greatest increase—3.3
percent—came in cities with 500,000 to 999,999 residents.
Larceny-theft (down 3.5 percent overall) and motor vehicle theft (down 4.7
percent) experienced decreases in every population category.
Arson: Is up 1.8 percent in all but one population group. Arsons are tracked
separately from other property crime offenses.
