Major crime in Hattiesburg down 10 percent

    HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Hattiesburg saw a decrease in almost
every major crime throughout 2009, and officials are hoping 2010
will be even better.
    Hattiesburg Police Department released the annual crime
statistics and the city had a 10 percent total decrease in reported
crime since 2008.
    Among the biggest declines: Arsons in 2009 were down 72 percent
from a year ago - dropping from 18 to 5 - while robberies were down
46 percent - dropping from 122 to 66.
    Mayor Johnny DuPree tells the Hattiesburg American that the
decrease is something city residents can be proud of.
    The number of homicides also decreased in 2009 - down from 7 in
2008 to 5.
    The only major 2009 increase was commercial burglary - which
increased from 126 in 2008 to 174 in 2009.