NYPD crime statistics show last month was safest June in four decades

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The NYPD will announce Wednesday the lowest numbers of murders, shootings and overall crime for the month of June since the department has been tracking those statistics.

Officials say all seven major crime categories recorded declines during the four weeks of the month compared to the same period last year, making this June the safest June in more than four decades.

Murders were down 34.4 percent, from 32 last year to 21, while shootings dropped 3.7 percent, from 108 last year to 104. Rapes were down 12 percent, from 125 last year to 110, while assaults were down 13.4 percent. Burglaries and grand larcenies were down nearly double digits, and robberies and car thefts also fell.

In total, 7,836 serious crimes were recorded, compared to 8,578 last year, a drop of 8.7 percent.

The numbers came as a welcome surprise after ominous week-by-week numbers and statistics showed shootings up 10 percent in the first half of 2015, between Januayr 1 and June 14. Authorities say 607 people were shot between the start of the year and June 21, up 6.9 percent from last year.