PORT ANGELES — Violent crime in Port Angeles increased about 14 percent during the first half of 2005 compared to 2004, but property crime dropped by about the same margin, according to the mid-year Uniform Crime Report released Tuesday by the Port Angeles Police Department.

Overall, the total crime index fell by more than 12 percent between January and June 2005, from 460 cases in 2004 to 404 cases in 2005.

The numbers are a good indicator for police and the community to identify problems, but the statistics don’t always tell the whole story, Police Chief Tom Riepe said.