By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
Crime rates in 2011 fell to near historic lows, according to the FBI.
Preliminary figures released Monday show violent crimes and property crimes reported dropped in 2011 compared to the previous year.
Specifically, violent crimes fell 4 percent and property crimes dropped 0.8 percent.
In the violent crime offenses category, murder was down overall 1.9 percent from 2010 figures; forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault all fell 4.0 percent.
The FBI said there was an increase in murder in the Midwest (0.6 percent) and an 18.3 percent jump in murder in cities with populations of less than 10,000.
