While more vehicles were stolen last year than in any year since 2000, less crimes were reported overall.
The Michigan State Police 2003 Uniform Crime Report was released last week, summarizing crime statistics reported by police departments and agencies across the state.
According to the report, 610 murders were reported in 2003, a decrease of 9.09 percent from the previous year.
Reports of rape and attempted rape increased from 5,438 in 2002 to 5,535 in 2003, with violent crimes overall showing a decrease of 5.31 percent.
The number of reported motor vehicle thefts and attempted thefts are on the rise’carjackings not included?53,307 reports were filed last year, compared to 49,248 the previous year.
Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol showed a decrease, with 51,665 reports filed compared to 53,630 in 2002. Michigan’s stricter blood alcohol content law did not take effect until September 2003.
Since 2002, nearly twice the number of runaways were arrested: 54 in 2003, compared with 25 in 2002.
To learn more about Michigan crime reports, go to http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1645_3501_4621?,00.html.