When Baltimore's 1998 property crime rates are compared among the 30 most populous cities, Baltimore had the fifth highest property crime rate. Among the 207 cities with populations of 100,000 or more, Baltimore ranked 29th in total property crime rate. A recently completed audit of the BPD's reported UCR crime totals, done in concert with the FBI, however, indicates that the totals for 1999 will be shifted higher or that the reductions recorded will not be as great as previously reported. FBI Uniform Crime Reports Baltimore has remained extremely consistent in maintaining high rates of over 300 murders for the last ten years. Much focus continues to be placed on the City's homicide totals.
Murder is the most egregious of crimes and viewed by many as symptomatic of crime in general.
Currently, Baltimore's murder rate is over seven times the national average.