Crime rates have been falling for decades . Most crimes are committed by people known to the police . But perception of crime does n't always match statistics . In May , a Pew Research Center study found that 56 % of Americans believe that gun violence is higher than it was 20 year ago , even though it has fallen precipitously since the 1990s . Many local residents believe crime is getting worse .
Crime rates have been falling for decades . Most crimes are committed by people known to the police . But perception of crime does n't always match statistics . Many local residents believe crime is getting worse .