By Martin Henderson
Through the first third of 2013, serious crime dropped slightly when compared to 2012, according to statistics provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Excluding arson, which is a total still pending, there have been 321 Part 1 crimes from January through April.
The numbers are eerily similar in several categories: homicide (1 so far in 2013), rape (4), robbery (6), aggravated assault (17) and auto theft (17). The only difference was in 2012: There were no homicides, 20 assaults and 18 stolen vehicles.
The biggest difference includes burglary and larceny/theft; there were 44 burglaries compared to 83 a year ago, and 232 larcenies and thefts compared to 226 in 2012, which is also very close but represents the only increase in any crime segment, except the one homicide this year compared to none last year.
The number of total crimes project lower overall than every year dating to 2009, and lower than each category except for a few: In 2013, lawbreakers are ahead of pace for homicide (2009-12), rape (2009-12) and stolen vehicles (2011).
Over a longer period, the most significant crime thus far seems to be rape; the four already committed is halfway to the eight that occurred in 2010 and 2012.
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