FBI: Overall N.Y. Crime Rate Continues Decline; Car Thefts Down 13%

Overall crime rates continued to decline in New York during 2005 as vehicle thefts dropped almost 13 percent and robberies edged up from 2004, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation report.

The rate of violent crime did tick up 1.2 percent in 2005 — tracking a 1.3 percent increase nationally. But a Pataki administration analysis of the numbers shows that rate down 53.8 percent since 1994.

Gov. George Pataki said an increase in crimes involving a firearm bumped up the violent crime rate and he said law enforcement authorities will get $16 million more this year to prevent gun violence. The money will be spent to improve the ways police share and evaluate information about crimes and criminals, he said.

“Intelligence Crime Analysis Teams” will be set up in 17 counties that account for 80 percent of the crime outside New York City, the governor said. Those communities have already been targeted through Operation IMPACT, a program that brings together local and state police to combat gang violence, drug trafficking and other crimes. Pataki said an additional 100 state troopers will be made available for that program, bringing the total to 400.

“Intelligence driven policing is the essential platform to fight crime in the 21st century,” said Chauncey Parker, the state’s director of criminal justice, of the push for analysts, crime mapping and other technology in county law enforcement.

The level of crimes tracked by the FBI declined 3 percent from 2004, largely because of a 12.7 percent drop in motor vehicle thefts and a 3.8 percent decline in property crime. Nationally, vehicle thefts were down 0.8 percent and property crime was down 2.3 percent.

There were 2,554 crimes reported per 100,000 of population in 2005, the FBI said. Of those crimes, 446 were classified as violent — murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

While murders declined 1.6 percent, rape was up almost 1 percent and robberies jumped 5.1 percent, according to the report.

Burglaries and larcenies were down 3.6 and 2.7 percent respectively.

Nationally, the murder rate increased 1.8 percent, rape was down
2.2 percent and robberies increased 2.9 percent.
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On the Web:

New York Governor’s Office: http://www.ny.gov/governor/

FBI: http://www.fbi.gov/