WASHINGTON – The FBI released its “Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June 2006,” which shows that violent crime rose 3.7 percent when compared to its reported level for the first half of 2005. The report, released Monday, also reveals that property crime for the same period declined 2.6 percent.

“As predicted, and as stores are experiencing, violent crime is up across the country,” sociologist and security expert Dr. Rosemary Erickson, president of Athena Research Corp., told NACS Daily. “Though there were some reactions from the Justice Department that the good news was that property crime is down, store operators know that what matters most to them is violent crime.”

The FBI report showed that the number of robbery offenses nationwide increased 9.7 percent, murder offenses jumped 1.4 percent and aggravated assault offenses advanced 1.2 percent. The volume of reported robbery offenses for the first six months of 2006 rose in all of the nation’s city population groupings when compared to the 2005 reported data. The largest increase -- 12.8 percent -- occurred in cities with populations of about 10,000 to 25,000.

“The main reason for the increase in crime continues to be the increase in the crime-committing age group of 18 to 25 years of age, and this trend will continue,” said Erickson. “The best advice for stores is to redouble efforts in robbery and violence prevention programs. By controlling cash and training employees, you can make a difference.”

NACS has developed a number of resources to assist retailers with store security.