Most Crime Is Down Mid-Pandemic, But Not Murder Or Arson: FBI

WASHINGTON, DC — Many categories of crime decreased amid stay-at-home orders during the first half of 2020, according to an overview of the FBI’s uniform crime report. But two other categories have seen a significant increase in numbers from 2019: murder and arson.

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter reported to the FBI increased 14.8 percent from January through June, compared with the first six months of 2019, the overview states. Arson increased by an even greater rate — 19.2 percent, the FBI said.

An FBI official was not immediately available to comment on what may have led to sharp increases in both crime categories during the coronavirus pandemic.

The other categories that have shown an increase are motor vehicle thefts, at 6.2 percent, and aggravated assaults, at 4.6 percent, according to the national report, which is based on information from 12,206 law enforcement agencies.

Among the violent crimes trending downward from 2019 to 2020 were rape, at 17.8 percent, and robberies, down 7.1 percent.

Property crime was down 7.8 percent overall, with larceny thefts decreasing 9.9 percent and burglaries down 7.8 percent.

Numbers at the state, county and town levels were not yet available Tuesday, Siobhan Johnson of the FBI’s Chicago office told Patch.

The FBI has issued a caution about the crime data coming in at the local levels.

Lists comparing cities and counties “do not provide insight into the numerous variables that shape crime in a given state, county, city, town, tribal area or region,” the FBI said in a statement.

“These rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that can create misleading perceptions that adversely affect communities and their residents. Only through careful study and analyses into the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction can data users create valid assessments of crime.”