AUGUSTA – Crime in Maine showed a slight drop last year, resuming a downward trend following an increase in 2001, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Public Safety.

The overall decrease was 0.5 percent and included drops of 1.1 percent in violent crime and 4.8 percent in property crime.

Crime went up 3.7 percent in 2001, reversing declines over the previous four years.

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara praised the declining numbers but emphasized a need for more work in the areas of rape and domestic violence.

There were 391 rapes last year, a 20.3 percent increase over 2001 and the fourth annual increase since 1998, when there were 229 rapes.

Domestic violence assaults dropped 2.6 percent in 2002, reversing a two-year increase.

“Law enforcement, victim advocates and prosecutors continue to work together and progress has been made in recent years, but our vigilance never ends. We must do more to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” Cantara said.

Maine recorded 14 homicides last year, compared to 19 in 2001, 11 in 2000, 25 in 1999, 26 in 1998 and 19 in 1997.

Three of last year’s 14 homicides, or 21 percent, stemmed from domestic violence involving family or household members or those involved in a relationship. By contrast, domestic violence homicides in recent years have accounted for nearly half the deaths.

In other violent crime categories, robbery increased 2.3 percent, from 263 to 269, and aggravated assaults dropped 9.7 percent, from 813 to 734.

Burglary, larceny and property crimes rose slightly while motor vehicle thefts were down 12.9 percent and arson dropped 18.7 percent.

Crime in urban areas, defined as those communities with full-time police agencies, was virtually unchanged; crime in rural areas, patrolled by state police and sheriff’s departments, was down 2.7 percent.