Originally published January 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified January 17, 2008 at 10:31 PM

Corrected version

Seattle crime at 39-year low

Seattle's overall crime rate hit a 39-year low in 2007, Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske announced today at a news conference...

By Sharon Pian Chan

Seattle Times staff reporter

Seattle's overall crime rate hit a 39-year low in 2007, Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske announced today at a news conference. The city experienced the fewest violent crimes and property crimes in a decade, according to the mayor's office.

This is how much crime rates changed in various categories in 2007:

• Murder decreased 20 percent.

• Rape decreased 28 percent.

• Robbery decreased 9 percent.

• Aggravated assault decreased 12 percent.

• Burglary decreased 20 percent.

• Larceny and theft decreased 7 percent.

• Vehicle theft decreased 29 percent.

Last year, there were 64 crimes per 1,000 people. In 1968, there were 62 crimes per 1,000 people, according to the mayor's office.

The 2007 rate was 14 percent lower than the 2006 rate.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Seattle's crime rate hit a 40-year low. The city's crime rate is at a 39-year low.