Violent Crime Drops Overall In California
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- State officials report that incidences of violent crime decreased 6.9 percent in California last year, reaching the lowest level since 1968.
The annual "Crime in California" report released Friday shows that the crime rate went down in every category of violent or property offenses in 2010.
It was the fourth year in a row that violent crime decreased.
Homicides were down 7.8 percent, robbery dropped 10 percent and motor vehicle theft fell 7.6 percent. Officials say since peaking in 1989, the motor vehicle theft rate has decreased 62 percent.
Homicide and forcible rape rates are the lowest since 1966.
The yearly report is compiled by the California Department of Justice and is based on data from police and sheriff's departments in all of the state's 58 counties.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
