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The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that violent crimes like murder has fallen by nearly 5 percent in the first six months of last year compared to 2012. The only category where the number increased was rape. According to F.B.I, last year 14,400 cases of rape were reported, compared with 13,242 in 2012. 

"We have had almost 25 years of a decline in crime, but on a year-to-year basis it's hard to come up with a story," John Roman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center, said, referring to efforts to pinpoint reasons for the lower numbers, according to NYT. "But over all, this shows how we've gotten smarter on policing, immigration and gentrification in the cities and elsewhere."

Reduction in violent crimes were more observed by smaller cities and rural areas. By region, crime fell most in the Midwest. 

These figures presented by F.B.I. are based in the 12,7234 law enforcement agencies who provide information to the bureau's Criminal Justice Information Services Division in Clarksburg, W.Va. 

Bureau said the number of violent crimes fell by 9.2 percent in cities whose population was less than 10K. In contrast, metropolitan counties saw a decrease of 3.6 percent. 

Among property crimes, burglary decreased by 8.1 percent, larceny theft by 4.7 percent and motor vehicle theft by 3.2 percent. Arsons fell by 20.4 percent in nonmetropolitan counties and 15.8 percent in metropolitan counties, reported NYT. 

"This new, more inclusive definition will provide us with a more accurate understanding of the scope and volume of these crimes," said Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr, according to NYT.