Violent Crimes on Rise, FBI Report Says

WASHINGTON — Violent crime rose nearly 2% last year, the FBI reported yesterday in nationwide data that show a slightly higher increase than expected. The number of big-city murders also increased, by 1.8% — the same rate as homicides nationwide. Robberies and arson also rose in large population centers, but the number of rapes and car thefts dropped, FBI data show. The new numbers confirm that crime rates continued on a two-year upward trend after a relative lull in violence between 2002 and 2004.