RIO DE JANEIRO, July 29 (Reuter) Police statistics released on Tuesday show
murders have increased in Rio de Janeiro state in the first six months of
this year, while other crime has decreased or remained unchanged.

Rio de Janeiro's violent reputation has frightened away many foreigners from
this international tourist mecca over the years, and even ordinary Brazilians
can be wary about visiting the city of Rio, which accounts for most of the
state's crime.

The police figures show that murders jumped 4.9 percent in Rio de Janeiro
state in the first half of this year to 3,838 from 3,658 in the same period
last year, or an average of 21 people a day were murdered so far this year in
Rio state.

Brazilians as a whole are no strangers to violent crime, with a murder rate
three times that of the United States.

Other crime such as kidnappings and bank robberies decreased in Rio state in
the first half of the year, with kidnappings down 18.9 percent and bank
robberies down 18.5 percent. Car thefts saw a slight increase of 0.05
percent.

But the number of people arrested for possession, use or trafficking of drugs
also increased, up 76.3 percent at 4,706 in the first half of this year.

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