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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 249-09
June 2, 2009

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND POLICE COMMISSIONER KELLY ANNOUNCE NEW YORK CITY REMAINS THE SAFEST BIG CITY IN AMERICA ACCORDING TO FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORT

Crime Fell Last Year; Continues to Fall in First Five Months of This Year

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced that New York City remains the safest big city in America, according to the FBI’s Crime in the United States, the preliminary Uniform Crime Report for 2008.  The report shows that violent crime decreased by four percent in New York City during 2008, outpacing a national decline. According to NYPD Compstat data, crime is down an additional 12 percent citywide for the first five months of the year when compared to 2008 levels. This overall reduction includes a 21 percent drop in murders, a 17 percent drop in robberies and a 17 percent decrease in rape.

“Our police department drove down crime again in 2008, and crime has continued to fall so far in 2009,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “There have been 43 fewer murders, 1,415 fewer robberies and 491 fewer cars stolen than this same time just a year ago. Using innovative policing strategies and a focus on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, we are continuing to do more with less, in spite of the economic downturn.”

“The men and women of the Police Department have continued to make the city safe, often while putting their lives at risk,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

According to data included in the FBI report, of the ten largest reporting cities, New York recorded the lowest Index Crime rate, ranking safest. Of the 25 largest cities in the country reporting to the FBI, New York again recorded the lowest Index Crime rate, ranking safest. Of the 261 US cities with populations larger than 100,000, New York’s crime rate ranked 246th, placing it between Torrance, California and McKinney, Texas.

Index Crime So Far This Year Compared to Same Period Last Year, According to Compstat Data 

Crime

2009 YTD

Murder

-21.1%

Rape

-16.7%

Robbery

-16.8%

Felony Assault

-1.6%

Burglary

-13.5%

Grand Larceny

-13.2%

Larceny Theft Auto

-10.5%

Total

-12.1%

Percentage Change in Index Crime from 2007 – 2008, According to FBI Data

Nationwide

Crime

New York City

-4.4%

Murder

5.4%

-2.2%

Rape

1.7%

-1.1%

Robbery

1.8%

-3.2%

Assault

-9.0%

-2.5%

Violent Crime

-4.0%

-1.3%

Burglary

-5.0%

-0.6%

Larceny Theft

2.1%

-13.1%

Motor Vehicle Theft

-6.2%

-1.6%

Property Crime

0.3%

-1.7% (est.)

TOTAL INDEX

-0.8%

Total Crime Index for the Nation’s Largest Cities, According to FBI Data

Year End 2008

City

Rate

1

New York

2,377.7

2

San Jose

2,744.5

3

Los Angeles

3,307.6

4

San Diego

3,649.7

5

Las Vegas

4,913.2

6

Philadelphia

5,784.1

7

Phoenix

5,874.1

8

Houston

6,053.8

9

Dallas

6,831.1

10

San Antonio

7,938.1







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser / Jason Post   (212) 788-2958

Paul Browne (NYPD)   (646) 610-6700




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