FBI report shows reversal in falling crime statistics

WASHINGTON -- The number of murders in the United States rose by 3.1 percent last year as police departments nationwide reported an overall increase in major crimes for the first time in a decade, a law enforcement official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity about contents of an annual report being released today by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, said the document will reflect more robberies, burglaries and car thefts. Overall, major crimes were up in 2001 by 2 percent from 2000, the official said Saturday.