Rape cases on O'ahu up 22 percent

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Rape cases on O'ahu increased 22 percent last year, according to crime statistics released by the Honolulu Police Department.

A total of 293 rapes were reported in 2001, the highest number since 1992. In 2000, 240 rapes were reported on O'ahu.

Overall, last year's violent crime total — encompassing murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — showed an increase of about 6.6 percent over the 2000 figure.

Property crimes were also up last year, but only by 3.6 percent. The statistics are kept by HPD under the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. But it's the rape figures that stand out among the 2001 statistics, which will be part of HPD's annual report due later this month.

Rape is defined in the FBI program as being between a man and woman, said Detective Dennis Kim of the adult sex crimes detail.

Analysis of the past several years shows no clear trend, but last year's total is the second highest in a decade of records, topped only by the 326 rapes logged in 1992. The increase may mean more women decided to report rapes last year, or there could have been an actual increase in crime, Kim said.

Among the other highlights from the statistical report:

• The number of murders remained unchanged between 2000 and 2001, with 20 recorded for both years.

• Robberies increased 2.1 percent.

• Aggravated assaults, which include those in which a weapon is used, went up 7.8 percent.

• The burglary count rose by about 5.7 percent.

• Motor vehicle theft totals increased 7.3 percent.

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