FBI: U.S. crime declined in early 2010

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Violent crime and property crime fell in the United States in the first half of 2010 from the previous year, the FBI reported Monday.

Violent crime declined 6.2 percent and property crime by 2.8 percent, according to the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report covering January through June. The report compiles data from more than 12,000 law enforcement agencies.

Compared with 2009 figures, robbery fell 10.7 percent, murder 7.1 percent, forcible rape 6.2 percent and aggravated assault 3.9 percent.

Violent crime declined in cities of all sizes and in both rural and metropolitan counties.

The decline was 7.8 percent in the South, 7.2 percent in both the Midwest and the West and 0.2 percent in the Northeast.

Among property crimes, arson dropped 14.6 percent, motor vehicle theft 9.7 percent, larceny-theft 2.3 percent and burglary 1.4 percent.