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Non-auto theft increased more than 6 percent in Hawaii last year, but car thefts dropped by nearly 6 percent compared to the year before, the FBI reported this week.
In its annual report, the FBI said the number of auto thefts in 2009 declined in all four regions of the United States compared to 2008. The largest decline, 18.4 percent, was in the Midwest.
In Hawaii, the FBI reported that 4,819 cars were stolen last year.
Although larceny thefts declined on the mainland, there were 33,422 cases here in 2009, an increase of 6.4 percent over 2008.
On the mainland, violent crimes decreased 5.3 percent in 2009 — the third consecutive decline in that category — while Hawaii reported an increase of 1.4 percent at 3,559 cases.
Violent crime is composed of four offenses under the FBI statistics: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Forcible rape cases in Hawaii had the biggest increase of any crime, 8 percent, with 392 cases.
However, murder and manslaughter crimes dropped 15.4 percent here with 22 cases reported last year.
Although property crime declined in all four regions of the United States with 6.1 percent in the West, 5.4 percent in the Midwest, 5.2 percent in the Northeast and 3.4 percent in the South, it was up by 3.2 percent in Hawaii last year. Hawaii reported 47,419 property crime cases.
In Hawaii, burglary was down 2.4 percent, with 9,178 burglaries reported last year.
