Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Gregory Smith
Journal staff writer

Violent crime surged in Providence in the first six months of 2008, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported today.

There were 553 violent crimes through July 1 compared to 440 for the same period a year earlier. Violent crime includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The Providence Journal reported in July that the police were concerned about the phenomenon. Police Chief Dean M. Esserman said then that the police would redouble their efforts to stem the trend, which he said followed a long-term decline in violence in Rhode Island's capital city.

Included in the trend was an increase in the number of shootings, which is not a figure announced by the FBI. Comparing the first six months of 2008 to the same period a year earlier, Esserman acknowledged at midyear that shootings had increased from 17 to 32.

The FBI focuses on what it calls Part I crime, under which there are eight categories. In addition to the violent crime categories there are four categories of property crime: Burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.

Overall, the total number of crimes for all eight categories went up from 4,217 to 4,866, according to the FBI.

The FBI statistics are based on figures reported by each of the states and localities.

 Tags  Providence violent crime

Comments

EMT said:

But how is this possible? The mayor says the city is safe! ROFL

Link | January 12, 2009 5:10 PM
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