By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Birmingham's crime rate for the first quarter of 2007 shows neither an increase nor decrease in criminal offenses.
Police released the city's overall crime figures Tuesday for the January through March period.
The rate remained the same as during the same period last year.
Homicides dropped 36 percent - so far there have been 20 homicides this year, compared to 36 during the first quarter of 2006; burglaries declined 14 percent; and aggravated assaults were down 9 percent.
But police recorded increases in robberies, thefts and rapes - all were up 5 percent or less - while vehicle thefts rose 19 percent.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)