Evening star., 1952-04-21
FB|Reports277%
Rise in Crime
Here During 81
City Leads Nation in
Number Of Aggravated
Assault Cases

Crime in the District increased
2.5 per cent during 1851, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
announced today. while the ma
tional average went up ST. per
cent.
The FBI's Uniform Crime Re-
ports annual bulletin showed
Washington leading the Nation in
the number of aggravated as
saults with an increase of "a per
cent. The 1851 total here was
4,308 as compared with a 1850
total Of 4,205.
The bulletin stressed an increase
in the number of crimes COM
mitted by youth and declared that
the tragedy of our times is ex-
pressed in 1951's fingerprint statis-
tics on Youthful offenders"
More persons aged % were ar
rested than any other age group,
the bulletin pointed out. Per-
sons under 81 made up 14.4 per
cent of all persons arrested during
the past year. Arrests Of teen
ayers under 18 increased ~ per
cent during 1851 as compared
with 1850.
86 Murders Here in Year.
FBI figures for the District
showed 86 murders and other
homicides. excluding all listed as
negligent. Figures submitted by
the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment to the FBI listed 674 rob-
berries. 4.017 burglaries, 1,781 lar
cenies of $50 and over, 1859 lar
cenies under $50 and 1921 auto
thefts.
The report showed the District
ranking fifth in the number of
felonious homicides whereas it
ranked eighth in 1850.
However, officials here pointed
out that the FBI figures are use
full only for a general picture of
crime in the United States. 1t
is useless, they say, to make COM
parsons between cities of similar
sizes.
1t. Louis B. Peters, head of
the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment's statistical bureau, said yes
terday the variance of laws in
different localities prevents any
accurae comparison of reported
crimes.
In the District, he pointed out,
any pocketbook snatching is listed
as a robbery felony even if it
amounts to only five cents.
In other cities. he continued, a
pocketbook snatching is often
listed as petty larceny-a fact
which would sharply decrease
average figures for the more I'm
portant crime. In New York, he
said, many aggravated assaults
are not listed because people do
not wish to prosecute or for
other reasons. Here. each case
is reported and listed
5,157 Major Crimes Daily.
Nationally, the FBI report
showed major crimes during 1851
averaging 5,157 each day. Broken
down that means "a felonious
homicides, LIS burglaries, 143
robberies. 1904 larcenies, 46
rapes, $40 auto thefts, and 215 ag-
gravated assaults each day.
Crimes of negligent manslaugh-
ter, consisting mostly of traffic
fatalities, increased to $50
deaths or 3.4 per cent over 1850.
Thieves stole 196.960 automobiles
during the year-an increase of
26, ,18O.
Actually, the FBI considers the
major crime total as conservative
since such crimes as arson, en-
bezzlement, carrying concealed
weapons and others are not in
cluded.
In Alexandria. Va, five murders
or other deliberate homicides were
listed. 81 robberies, 224 aggravated
assaults, 215 housebreakings, 1876
grand larcenies, 500 petty lar
cenies and 70 car thefts were
Arlington's totals were 3 delib-
crate 'homicides, II robberies, "a
aggravated assaults, 352 house.
breakings, 342 grand larcenies, GAL
petty larcenies and lis auto
thefts.