Nevada crimes plummet according to new statistics

In a year when Nevada experienced a dramatic explosion in population growth, the state has beat the national average in crime reduction.

According to state statistics released Thursday, "serious crime" dropped by 8.7 percent statewide, with violent crimes declining in all but one category.

Nationally, the FBI predicts a 7 percent decrease in crime for 1999.

The report, titled "Crime and Justice in Nevada," covers January to December 1999. In that time, instances of crime, calculated per 1,000 residents, dropped from 50.7 to 43.1.

In 1997 and 1998, crime fluctuated but has not seen such a dramatic dip. In 1997 crime rose by 6.5 percent, and in 1998 crime reports flopped, dropping 3.6 percent.

Serious offenses counted in the report include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, car theft and arson. Separated, violent crimes dropped 8.3 percent and property crimes dropped 8.8 percent.

Instances of murder decreased by 5.2 percent.

The only recorded crime that increased in number reported was rape with 32 more instances from 1998 to 1999. The increase from 909 to 941 represents 3.4 percent.

The annual crime report is generated by the Records and Identification Bureau of the Nevada Highway Patrol. The effort is Nevada's contribution to the national Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The repository collects statistics from more than 17,000 city, county and state law enforcement agencies.

The Nevada statistics comprise 37 law enforcement jurisdictions statewide.