Crime is down ... locals rejoice!

Today's headline in El Mercurio (the leading daily newspaper here in Santiago):

"Víctimas de delitos bajaron en 2007, pero aumentó la percepción de inseguridad"

"(The number of) Victims of crimes fell in 2007, but the perception of insecurity increased"

The article went on to say that only 34.8% of households had suffered a crime last year, down from 38.4% in 2006. Are you kidding me?! Only one of three Santiagans were victims of a crime last year. I guess I will be included in the 2008 statistics released next year.