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(NewsDakota.com) – The statewide crime report for 2011 was released on Monday, and attorney general Wayne Stenehjem says crime index offenses increased by 10.9 percent over 2010.

“Although the crime rate has increased in the last year, so has the state’s population,” said Stenehjem. “The good news is that North Dakota still has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. As the report shows, however, there are areas of concern, including the continuing upward trend in aggravated assaults.”

About 13,800 crime index offenses were reported in 2011, up from about 12,400 in 2010. Crime index offenses include the violent crimes of murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and property crimes such as burglary, theft, shoplifting, and motor vehicle theft.

Violent crimes increased by 16 percent, from 1,165 in 2010 to 1,353 in 2011, but violent crimes still account for less than 10 percent of the total index crimes reported.
 
Property crime accounted for 90.2 percent of crime index offenses. The number of property crimes increased by 10.3 percent in 2011. More than $16.2 million worth of property was reported stolen in 2011.

Aggravated assaults increased about 23 percent statewide, including a 55 percent jump in the oil field counties. And although 25 percent of North Dakota’s population is in oil counties, only 16 percent of rapes occurred there.