C. Oregon crime stats paint mixed picture

The violent crime rate in Oregon’s four largest cities fell last year, while the property crime rate increased — the opposite of national trends. Central Oregon’s crime numbers were mostly, but not all on the rise.

The FBI reported Monday that in the Oregon cities of more than 100,000 people, violent crime in 2012 was down by .7 percent compared to the year before. Nationally, violent crimes in cities of that size increased by .7 percent.

The agency said property crime in the four Oregon cities was up by 2.3 percent, while nationally it was down by .9 percent — the 10th year of decline.

Oregon has four cities of more than 100,000: Portland, Salem, Eugene and Gresham.

In Central Oregon, where the FBI released raw statistics – not rates — Bend reported 204 violent crimes last year, up from 128 the previous year, while there were 2,003 property crimes, down from 2,416 reported in 2011.

Madras had 15 violent crimes reported last year, up from 11 in 2011, while the number of property crimes rose from 265 to 322.

Though the numbers were small, Prineville saw its violent crimes rise close to 50 percent, from 20 in 2011 to 34 in 2012, and there were 307 property crimes reported, up from 251 the previous year.

Redmond recorded 92 violent crimes, up from 81 in 2011, but its property crime tally dropped from 1,453 in 2011 to 1,266 in 2012, according to the data submitted to the FBI

Deschutes County saw a sizable drop in its violent crimes, from 240 reported in 2011 to 118 last year, due to a significant drop in aggravated assaults reported. But property crimes rose from 897 in 2011 to 982 last year.

Crook County had 24 violent crimes and 127 property crimes in 2012, with minor changes from the previous year, while Jefferson County reported eight violent crimes — double the previous year — and 194 property crimes, up 10 from 2011.