Crime up in Maine, first time in 5 years State still fifth-safest, according to FBI

Crime rose last year in Maine after four years of decline, but it still ranks among the safest states in the nation, according to newly released FBI statistics.

The FBI released its annual U.S. crime summary Monday that showed the first overall crime increase nationwide in a decade. Overall crime rose 2.1 percent, and violent crime increased 0.8 percent.

In Maine, robberies, rapes and assaults all increased over 2000 levels, contributing to a rise of 2.1 percent in violent crimes. That follows four years of significant declines.

The overall crime rate in Maine increased 3.4 percent in 2001.

Still, Maine ranked as the fifth-safest state in the nation. New Hampshire was the safest, followed by South Dakota, North Dakota and West Virginia. Vermont was the sixth-safest state.

“During the four previous years, crime in Maine dropped 22.9 percent, so we are still safer today than we were in 1996,” said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Maine’s murder rate showed a huge statistical increase, but that is because the overall numbers are so low. There were 19 homicides in 2001 compared to 11 in 2000, which was the lowest number of killings in the state in 30 years.

Maine’s numbers also show that the biggest increase occurred in rural areas, in towns that do not have their own police departments. McCausland said that might be a reflection of the growing number of people living in Maine’s small towns.

Urban crime in Maine grew 2.2 percent, just slightly higher than the national average.

Portland, the state’s largest city, had an increase in overall crime, but a 2.4 percent decline in violent crime.

Property crime, such as burglaries and thefts, increased in 2001, which police say might be related to an increasing problem with drug abuse.