"The number of aggravated assaults increased 6.5 percent, murders increased 5.2 percent, rapes… increased 4.4 percent… and robbery offenses were up 3.2 percent," the release stated.
In the property crime category, offenses dropped 0.6 percent, the release explained. Burglaries fell 3.4 percent, and larceny-thefts declined 0.8 percent.
However, motor vehicle thefts increased 6.6 percent.
The release gave no explanation for the changes and cautioned against simplistic interpretations of the data.
Careful study and analyses into the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction are needed for valid assessments of crime, the release also noted.
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