CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia's violent crime rate rose 3.1 percent in 2010 due to a jump in aggravated assaults.
FBI data released this week shows 314.6 violent crimes per 100,000 residents were reported in 2010, compared to 305.2 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2009.
The number of violent crimes increased by 5 percent to 5,830.
Declines in murders, rapes and robberies were offset by a 12.2 percent increase in aggravated assaults. Aggravated assaults rose from 4,086 in 2009 to 4,586 in 2010.
Property crimes in West Virginia dropped by 10.9 percent, from 46,215 in 2009 to 41,400 last year.
Nationally, violent crime fell 6 percent and property crime dropped 2.7 percent.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
