When we think of the fictional town, Andy of Mayberry, we think of petty crime: moonshining, shoplilfting. But the FBI says in the real smalltown USA, murder is up. What’s going on?
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The FBI says crime declined in the first half of 2008, despite an alarming spike in small-town murders.
Violent crime nationwide fell 3.5 percent, and property crime dropped 2.5 percent, according to the bureau’s preliminary figures released Monday morning.
Murders dropped 4.4 percent nationwide, though the drop wasn’t universal. In mid-sized cities _ those with 50,000 to 100,000 people _ murder and manslaughter increased 3.3 percent.
Murders in small towns _ those with fewer than 10,000 people _ rose nearly 10 percent, the FBI reported.
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