ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Preliminary data show an uptick in New York's major crimes last year following a decade-long drop, though law enforcement officials say it remains one of the safest states.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services says New York City showed a 3 percent increase in 2012, while the total in the rest of the state appeared to be flat, with violent crimes up 1.5 percent and property crimes down slightly.
Michael Green, the division's executive deputy commissioner, told legislators Wednesday that federal numbers show New York "continues to be the safest large state in the country," and the fourth safest overall behind the Dakotas and Idaho.
Statewide index crimes - murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and vehicle theft - declined to 446,733 in 2011, down 17 percent since 2002.
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