news-record.com

Violent crime in Greensboro climbed by about 3 percent over the same period last year. But it saw one of the smallest increases compared with other North Carolina cities reporting data, according to a preliminary report the FBI released today.

While some North Carolina cities saw an increase in violent crime, the country experienced a 3.5 percent decline in violent crime from January to June 2008, compared to the same period in 2007, according to a FBI press release. Nationwide, there was a 2.5 percent decline in property crime for that time period.

Among cities in North Carolina, violent crime increased by 8.4 percent in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County while Raleigh saw a 12.4 percent increase.

Fayetteville reported a 21.7 percent increase.

Cary reflected the nationwide trend, reporting about a 3 percent decrease in violent crime in North Carolina.

Property crime in Greensboro increased by 4.2 percent. That increase is less than the Charlotte area, which saw a 7.5 percent increase, but more than Raleigh, which experienced a 1.7 percent increase. Fayetteville saw a 3.7 percent decrease in property crimes.

The report is based on information from law enforcement agencies that contributed three to six common months of data to the FBI from January through June of both 2007 and 2008.