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SALT LAKE CITY -- The latest crime stats from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification are out.
The most shocking numbers show hate crimes increased 25 percent from 2008 to 2009. Burglaries were also up significantly in a year's time -- 6 percent.
Overall crime increased .21% last year in Utah.-BCI
It is believed the poor economy played into those types of crimes, and continues to do so in 2011.
Austin Beaslin is a believer that it did just before Christmas in 2010. He had just gone shopping with one of his sons when he loaded the presents in the back of his car. He parked his car in the garage and left just a small crack in the garage door. Somebody slid underneath and emptied the car of the gifts.
"Extremely frustrating," Beaslin said, "especially since I'd taken my son and he'd picked something out for his mom specifically, which was quite a big deal for him, and they took that."
- One homicide every 8.9 days
- One arson every 1.09 days
- One rape every 9.47 hours
- One robbery every 6.67 hours
- One aggravated assault every 2.41 hours
- One motor vehicle theft every 1.4 hours
- One burglary every 35.57 minutes
- One larceny every 7.56 minutes
Law enforcement officials appreciate the numbers for what they are: a snapshot. But they're quick to say that it's hard to pinpoint any particular factor or factors as reasons for crime going up or down.
"It's hard to tell why crime stats go up and why they go down," said Det. Pat Wilkinson with the Salt Lake City Police Department. "They do over the years, and if we knew why they did, that's the million dollar question."
Some other interesting numbers: The overall crime rate went up slightly in 2009 -- just .21 percent.
Robberies were down more than 7 percent in 2009 from the year before, while murders and rapes went up.
Officers say the reason they like these numbers is because it helps them focus on what crimes have to be addressed in their cities and helps them put cops where they're needed most.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
