Crime in US dropped in 1986 for second year

The amount of crime in the United States edged lower in 1986, continuing a trend that began five years ago, according to a federal survey of households. The number of rapes, robberies and burglaries rose last year, while there were declines in assaults, personal thefts and household larcenies, the Bureau of Justice Statistics said Sunday.

Nearly 34.2 million crimes were committed in 1986, down 1.9 percent from 34.9 million the previous year.