Crime rates down, OSBI reports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says crime is declining in the state.

The newly published OSBI Uniform Crime Report for 2014 shows the murder rate dropped 14 percent in 2014. The reports says the number of murders reported last year – 178 – was the lowest in a 10-year period. Since 2012, murders have declined at a rate of 10.3 percent annually.

But the reports says the number of rapes reported last year – 1,877 – increased by 6.5 percent over the previous year. Overall, violent crime in the state was down 6.2 percent last year while non-violent crime declined by 9.1 percent. Since 2012, violent crimes have decreased by 7 percent annually.

OSBI tracks seven index crimes for the crime report, including murder, rape, robbery and property crimes.