FBI Releases Preliminary Annual Crime Statistics for 2012
Washington, D.C.
June 03, 2013   

According to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, released today, the nation experienced a 1.2 percent increase in the number of violent crimes and a 0.8 percent decline in the number of property crimes in 2012 when compared with data from 2011. The report is based on information the FBI gathered from 13,770 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data for both 2011 and 2012. 

Violent Crime 

In 2012, the violent crime offenses of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter increased 1.5 percent from the 2011 figures, aggravated assault increased 1.7 percent, and robbery increased 0.6 percent. Forcible rape offenses declined 0.3 percent. 

Violent crime increased 3.7 percent in cities with populations of 500,000 to 999,999, the largest increase in the city groupings. There was a 1.0 percent decrease in violent crime in the nation’s cities with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants. Violent crime increased 1.2 percent in metropolitan counties and declined 0.9 percent in nonmetropolitan counties. 

Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses increased in all city groups but one, with the largest increase (12.5 percent) occurring in cities with populations of 500,000 to 999,000. Cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 showed the only decrease of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses (1.3 percent). Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses declined 4.8 percent in metropolitan counties and 0.4 percent in nonmetropolitan counties. 

Cities with populations of 1 million and over in population experienced a 3.2 percent increase in forcible rape offenses. Cities with 25,000 to 49,999 inhabitants experienced a 3.5 decrease in forcible rapes. Forcible rape offenses declined 1.2 percent in metropolitan counties and increased 1.3 percent in nonmetropolitan counties. 

Robbery offenses decreased 2.9 percent in cities with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants, but increased 2.4 percent in cities with populations from 250,000 to 499,999. Robberies increased 1.1 percent in metropolitan counties and declined 1.1 percent in nonmetropolitan counties. 

Aggravated assaults remained virtually unchanged in cities with 25,000 to 49,000 in population and declined 0.6 percent in cities with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants. Aggravated assaults increased in all remaining city groups, with the largest increase, 5.2 percent, occurring in cities with 500,000 to 999,999 in population. 

Violent crime increased in three of the four regions (3.3 percent in the West, 1.3 percent in the Midwest, and 0.6 percent in the South). There was a 0.6 percent decrease in violent crime offenses in the Northeast. 

Property Crime 

Nationally, the property crime offense of burglary decreased 3.6 percent in 2012 when compared with 2011 data. Motor vehicle theft increased 1.3 percent, and larceny-theft offenses remained virtually unchanged. 

Property crime increased 0.4 percent in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants. Decreases of 1.0 percent in property crime were reported in cities with 25,000 to 49,999 in population and in cities with 1 million or more in population. Property crime decreased 3.5 percent in nonmetropolitan counties and 2.1 percent in metropolitan counties. 

Burglary offenses decreased in all city groups, including the largest decrease, 7.0 percent, which was reported in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 in population. Burglaries decreased 4.3 percent in nonmetropolitan counties and 3.1 percent in metropolitan counties. 

Larceny-theft offenses increased in all city groupings except those with populations of 25,000 to 49.999 and those with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, each of which reported a 0.2 percent decrease. Larceny-thefts decreased 3.2 percent in nonmetropolitan counties and 2.2 percent in metropolitan counties. 

Motor vehicle thefts increased 4.9 percent in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants, but decreased 5.1 percent in cities with 1 million or more inhabitants. Metropolitan counties reported a 2.1 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts while nonmetropolitan counties reported a 2.1 percent decrease. 

Three of the nation’s regions had decreases in property crime in 2012 when compared with data from 2011. These offenses declined 3.5 percent in the South, 2.1 percent in the Midwest, and 1.6 percent in the Northeast. However, property crimes increased 5.2 percent in the West. 

Arson 

Arson offenses, which are not included in property crime totals, decreased 1.2 percent nationwide. Arsons declined 4.3 percent in both the Northeast and the South, but increased 1.6 percent in the Midwest and 1.0 percent in the West.