ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CRIME REPORT vs

THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TODAY ANNOUNCED THE RELEASE OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S "CRIME IN CALIFORNIA, 2003". THE REPORT SHOWS DECLINES IN VIOLENT CRIME OFFENSES OF HOMICIDE, FORCIBLE RAPE, ROBBERY, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. OVERALL, VIOLENT CRIME OFFENSES DECREASED BY 3.4 PERCENT FROM 2002 TO 2003. TWO OF THE THREE PROPERTY CRIMES, BURGLARY AND LARCENY-THEFT OVER $400, DECREASED THIS PAST YEAR COMPARED TO 2002. BUT MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT INCREASED FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. THE 6.7 PERCENT MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT CAUSED THE OVERALL PROPERTY CRIME RATE TO INCREASE 2.0 PERCENT IN 2003.