This chart shows the trend in crime rates measured nationally, for Texas, and for the non-Texas South from 1960 to 2002. For almost the entire period Texas crime rates have been higher than those of the nation as whole. The rest of the South until 1993 had a crime rate below the national average. All three rates rose steadily from 1960 to 1992. Since then rates dropped slightly and have leveled off at approximately the level of the early 1980s. The crime rate is measured as the total number of violent and property crimes reported per 100,000 in population. Violent crimes include murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny and theft, and vehicle theft.