Honolulu crime declined
8 percent last year

Crime in Honolulu decreased by 8 percent last year compared with 2003, according to the latest statistics from the FBI.

Property crimes dropped 8.6 percent, and there were decreases in every category, including burglaries, thefts and auto thefts. Violent crimes fell 4 percent, with decreases in rapes and robberies, but there was a 73 percent increase in murders.

Police said the growth in homicides last year to 26 was misleading, because it reflected an unusually low 15 murders in 2003.

"It was an unusually quiet year," said HPD Capt. Janice Crotteau. "We have, on the average, a middle range of about 20 homicides a year.

"We're still one of the safest places to live."

Other violent crimes decreased in the double digits. Rapes fell 16.5 percent, while robberies dropped 17 percent. Decreases across the board for property crimes included a 9 percent drop in burglaries, an 8 percent drop in the theft/larceny category, and an 11 percent decrease in auto thefts, one of Oahu's worst problems.

"What we've been trying to do is take the person off the streets so they're not there the next day to commit another crime -- and we think that's had an impact," Crotteau said.

Arson cases increased 10 percent, but both Crotteau and Honolulu Fire Department officials said those numbers do not seem accurate. The FBI statistics showed 389 arson cases in Honolulu for 2003 and 427 arson cases in 2004.

"I'm not sure what they're referring to," Crotteau said. "I don't believe all those were arson cases."

Fire department officials said the FBI might be counting suspicious fires with undetermined origins, including the numerous brush fires on Oahu every year.

Nationwide statistics for the FBI Uniform Crime Report showed a 1.7 percent decrease in violent crimes and a 1.8 percent decrease in property crimes. Preliminary data for 2004 show that, nationally, murder and non-negligent manslaughter were down 3.6 percent from 2003.