Violent Crime Dips Overall in NY, Ticks Up in NYC

State officials say the overall number of violent crimes in New York dropped slightly in the first half of 2011 compared to a year earlier, but ticked up in New York City as the number of murders held steady and more rapes were reported.

The preliminary statistics released Monday show 35,388 murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults through June 30, 1.9 percent fewer than the first six months of 2010. There were 227 murders in the city, down from 229. The increase in rapes from 459 to 548 and more assaults there drove a 2.9 percent increase in violent crimes.

In the rest of the state, the number of murders dropped to 110 from 165 and there were 724 rapes, down from 819.

Property crimes dropped 5 percent, led by declines in car thefts across the state.