Violent Crimes on Rise, Especially in West, an F.B.I. Report Says

BREAKING....NEWS!

By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
The New York Times

Filed 12.19.06

HOUSTON, Dec. 18 — Driven by a surge in robberies, violent crimes nationwide rose 3.7 percent for the first half of 2006, with the West leading the increase, the F.B.I. reported Monday. But property crime was down 2.6 percent.

Robberies reported to the authorities were up 9.7 percent, murders were up 1.4 percent and arson was up 6.8 percent, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in its summary. Rape was largely unchanged.

Reflecting a surge in crime in Texas after the dislocations of Hurricane Katrina, Houston recorded a sharp increase in homicides, to 202 for the first half of 2006, up from 158 in the comparable prestorm period last year. Three Texas cities ranked among the nation’s top 10 in crimes per capita.

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