Violent crime in the United States fell 2.5 percent in 2008 as cities and towns reported fewer murders, rapes, assaults, and other incidents for a second consecutive year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said Monday. The FBI's statistics could ease worries that gangs, youth violence, rising gun crimes, and fewer police could lead to a long-term increase in crime. Violent crimes fell from 1991 to 2005 due to what experts described as better enforcement, economic prosperity, and declines in high-risk populations of young adults. However, the number of reported crimes rose in 2005 and 2006. Last year, the number of murders fell 4.4 percent, aggravated assaults decreased 3.2 percent, rapes dropped 2.2 percent, and robberies declined 1.1 percent, the FBI data showed. Property crimes were down 1.6 percent from 2007, as they continued to drop from their 2003 high, the FBI said. Auto thefts fell 13.1 percent; overall thefts fell 0.6 percent but burglaries rose 1.3 percent. Arsons fell 3.9 percent.
