Atlanta's crime risk is nearly five times the national average -- higher even than Detroit's, according to an analysis of FBI crime data by Onboard Informatics and reported in U.S. News and World Report.
"The Big Peach poses more of a threat to property than to people," states the magazine, which reports Atlanta's motor vehicle theft rate as being 55 percent greater than the national average while the burglary rate is 38 percent higher than the rest of the country.
The good, or slightly less bad, news from the study: Violent crime rates in Atlanta were only slightly higher than the national figure.
"The Atlanta Police Department urges the public to view such lists with caution, as well as a measure of skepticism," police spokesman Carlos Campos said in a statement Thursday night.
The APD's data analysts have not yet been able to produce a detailed examination of the methodology used, Campos said. The department's analysis shows, during that time frame, Atlanta dropped from the “2nd most dangerous city” to 25th, he said.
St. Louis has the nation's highest risk of crime, according to the report. Ranking behind Atlanta, in order: Birmingham and Orlando (tie); Detroit; Memphis; Miami; Baltimore; Kansas City; Minneapolis and Cleveland (tie).
U.S. News and World Report acknowledges the index figures "do not provide a full picture of crime in any given city.""
"For example, Birmingham and Orlando share an index rating of 380, but a statistical snapshot shows that the two cities deal with their own unique crime patterns," the magazine states. "In 2009, Orlando had a greater incidence of larceny and theft than Birmingham, which itself experienced more forcible rapes and robberies."
In fact, the cities with the highest murder rates in the country in 2009 -- New Orleans and Richmond, Va. -- did not crack the 11 cities with the worst crime rates.
"It should be noted, however, that the FBI routinely cautions that its UCR data should not be used to rank cities or determine the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies," Campos said.
Campos said that "a cursory review of the U.S. News and World Report listing -- as well as past experience with such ‘rankings’ -- gives the department reason for concern." This is because the rankings treat violent crime -- homicide, rape, aggravated assault -- to be just as dangerous as property crime -- larceny and auto theft.
Houston, Charlotte and Memphis rank higher than Atlanta in those violent crimes, he said.
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