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Crime up, but officials
see silver lining

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By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

A recently released six-month Uniform Crime Report shows the number of serious crimes in the state rose 10 percent in the first six months of 2000 over the number reported for the same months in 1999.

But state officials said this increase needs to be viewed alongside comparatively low crime rates in previous years.

"While any increase in crime is disappointing news, this is the first increase to be reported after four straight years of major decreases," said Attorney General Earl Anzai. "Compared to how much crime decreased in the earlier period, the increase isn't necessarily surprising -- it became a question of how much lower one could reasonably expect the crime rate to drop."

Reports of violent crimes (including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) increased three percent. Murder reports increased 45 percent statewide and aggravated assault increased 10 percent. However, rape reports decreased 7 percent and robbery, at 2 percent, was slightly lower.

Serious property crimes increased 10 percent, with motor-vehicle theft up 42 percent, burglary up 11 percent and larceny-theft 7 percent.

In the city and county of Honolulu, reported violent crimes decreased slightly (less than one-half of one percent) to reach the lowest semi-annual total since 1991, while property crimes increased 11 percent.

Violent crimes on the Big Island were up five percent and property crimes were up less than one percent. Maui County posted a seven percent decrease in violent crimes and a 12 percent increase in property crimes.

Violent crimes in Kauai County more than tripled primarily because of an almost ninefold increase in aggravated assaults. Property crimes increased 14 percent.

"Kauai County saw the largest increase. Yet it also had seen the greatest decreases over the previous four years," noted Paul Perrone, director of the state Uniform Crime Reporting Program. "They were setting record low after record low."

Juvenile arrests decreased nine percent in the first six months of 2000 compared with the first six months of 1999, Perrone said. This is significant given that 1999 was a record low, he added.