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Rockford Leads Illinois Cities On 'Most Dangerous' List For 2016

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Rockford was ranked the fifth most-dangerous city in America based on 2016 FBI violent crime statistics.

Three Illinois cities rank among the worst 25 cities in the country for violent crime rates.

Rockford is the most dangerous of the three, according to a report by CBS News based on FBI datafor 2016, the most recent year available.

The Forest City ranked fifth nationwide, with 1,659 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. There were 26 murders in Rockford that year – the most in two decades.

There were about 386 violent crimes per 100,000 residents nationwide in 2016, according to the FBI. That’s a 3.4 percent increase compared with the previous year, although it remains near historic lows overall.

The FBI defines four categories of violent crimes: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Springfield came in at 19th, with 1,116 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. There were six murders in the Illinois capital city in 2016.

Chicago ranked 24th in violent crime rates, with 1,106 per 100,000 residents. But the FBI reports 765 murders in Chicago in 2016 -- more than New York City and Los Angeles combined.

Detroit was the most dangerous city in America in 2016, with 2,047 incidents per 100,000 residents and 303 murders.

In neighboring states:

  • St. Louis ranked second among most dangerous cities, with 1,913 violent crimes per 100,000 people. St. Louis had the highest murder rate in the nation, with 60 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2016 -- more than 10 times the national rate.
  • Milwaukee ranked eighth, with a violent crime rate of 1,533 per 100,000 residents. In 2016, 141 people were murdered in Milwaukee. The city ranks in the top 15 cities in every violent crime category except rape.
  • Indianapolis ranked 12th, with a violent crime rate of 1,374 per 100,000 residents -- more than three times the national rate. And 148 people were murdered there in 2016. The burglary rate is more than 2.5 times the national average.
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