The statistics show the crime rate dropped 2.9 percent last year. The figure represents a larger drop than the year before and the third yearly decline in a row.
The rate of violent crime, which includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, fell 1.7 percent statewide. Individually, the murder rate was unchanged, the rape rate increased 7.5 percent, the robbery rate decreased 5.8 percent and the aggravated assault rate decreased .5 percent.
"Our hard work to keep North Carolina safe is showing progress," State Attorney General Roy Cooper announced Tuesday. "The numbers show that law enforcement is doing a good job to reduce crime rates even as our state grows."
The rate of property crime, consisting of burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft, decreased 3.1 percent across the state. The rate for burglary decreased 1.1 percent and larceny fell 4.3 percent. The motor vehicle theft rate increased 0.3 percent.
Officials found the arson rate increased 4.4 percent statewide.
"There's still work we need to do to make our communities safe, and I am particularly concerned about the increase in the number of reported rapes," cautioned Cooper. "We must continue to expand DNA technology and put these violent criminals behind bars before they repeat their crimes."
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