Evening star., 1949-03-15
DC. Robberiies,
MurdersRise;;
+73KiI|ed in '48
Report Shows City
Led U. S. in Assault
Cases With 4,049

Cases With 4,049
Washington had more murders,
serious assaults and robberies in
1948 than in the previous year,
but fewer thieves got away with
autos and small property, accord
ing to the FBI's Uniform Crime
Reports for 1948.
Nationally, the FBI reported
yesterday. serious crime occurred
every 1877 seconds last year.
Crime in rural areas was up 4.3
per cent over that in 1947, and
the rise in urban areas amounted
to 3 Of ! per cent.
Washington led the Nation in
aggravated assaults - those by
shooting. cutting. stabbins, maim-
ing, poisoning. scalding or by use
Of acids.
Compared with 4,o4s aggravated
assaults here, Detroit had 1894;
New York. 2.810: Los Angeles,
1892; Chicago. 2.343; st. Louis,
2,214: Baltimore, 1926, and Phil
adelphia. 9os. All these cities,
with the exception of st. Louis,
however. had more murders last
year than Washington's 73 homi-
cides.
Caution in Comparison Urged.
The FBI urged caution in COM
pairing crime statistics between
cities. pointing out that 1.-The
amount Of crime committed in a
community is not solely charge
able to the police, but is rather a
charge against the entire COM
munity."
Listed as some Of the factors
that might affect the amount of
crime in a community were pcpu-
lation of the city and its adjacent
metropolitan area; composition Of
the population as regards age.
sex and race: economic status and
activities of the population:
climate; educational. recreational
and religious facilities; number
of police employees per unit Of
population; standards governing
appointment to the police force;
policies of prosecuting officials
and the courts; attitude Of the
public toward law enforcement
problems. and the degree Of eff
cheney of the local law-enforce-
ment agency.
Last year was the first in which
the FBI report for Washington
was compiled through the revised
crime reporting system installed
in January, 1948.
73 Homicides in 1948.
A comparison Of Washington's
crime record in 194S and 1947, as
carried in Uniform Reports.
shows:
Homicide in ls4s; IS in
ls47.
Robbery-l,o2s in ls4s; $50 in
1s47.
Aggravated assault-4.049 in
1913; 1880 in 1947.
Burglary-4,543 in 1913; 1888
in 1947.
Larcenies involving more than
S50-1 .993 In 1940: 1889 in 1947.
Larcenies of less than $50
1924 in 194s: 5000 in 1s47.
Auto thefts-1,43S in 1913; 1.643
in 1947.
For the Nation as a whole, the
FBI reported that. in every "a
hours last year. there were So
killings. 255 aggravated assaults
or rapes. $50 robberies. 2.672
larcenies, 1882 burglaries and 1853
auto thefts.
1,6S6,67O Major Crimes.
An estimated l.6s6,670 major
crimes occurred throughout the
Nation last year. according to re-
ports to the FBI.
Totals for most crimes, the FBI
said, are far above the prewar
average. Figures on aggravated
assaults and Yapes in the larger
communities reached 1948 peaks
of 6s.7 per cent and 49.9 per
cent, respectively, over the prewar
average. Only negligent man
slaughter and auto thefts have
declined to points below the pre-
war period.
The FB1 report, based on in
formation from $3.50 agencies, also
showed:
Local police recovered 90 per
cent Of the stolen autos and 81
per cent Of other stolen property
during 1948.
The loot in the average holdup
brought the robber more than
5000. The average value per auto
was $3.50.
Victims Of 6s.6 per cent Of the
city robberies were held up or
strong armed in their homes or
on the streets.
Robbery Peak in December.
More than 80 per cent of the
burglaries investigated by police
occurred at night. while SO per
cent involved business houses and
other nonresidences. The prop
erty stole in the city burglaries
averaged 1927 per burglary.
OF the 5.881 rapes reported,
nearly II per cent of the victims
were under the age of consent.
Crimes against persons-mur-
der. rape and felonious assault
occurred most frequently in June
and July last year, while crimes
against property increased in the
winter months. December was
the peak month for robberies,
while burglaries reached their
peak in February and March.
The predominant age among
those arrested was 81 years.
More persons - 759, ,698 were
arrested and fingerprinted last
year than in any previous year.
Of the total number arreSted