WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- Violent crime in the United States decreased in 2009 for a third year in a row, while property crime was down for a seventh straight year, the FBI reported.
Data from 13,237 law enforcement agencies reported to the FBI showed a 5.5 percent decrease in violent crimes, the agency's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, released Monday, shows.
Property crime experienced a 4.9 percent reduction in the same year period, the report said.
All four categories of violent crime tracked by the FBI -- robbery, murder, aggravated assault and forcible rape -- declined compared to 2008.
Also showing a drop were the property crimes of motor vehicle theft, larceny-theft, arson and burglaries, the report shows.
The 2009 statistics are preliminary, the FBI said, with a final report to be issued in the fall.
