Crime in Baltimore County has dropped to a 35-year low, police officials announced this week.

Homicides for the first six months of 2010 decreased by approximately 44 percent, car thefts dropped 22 percent and rapes were down by 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

Fewer incidents of robbery, burglary, arson and theft were also reported for the same period.

Similar decreases for the first half of the year were reported by police precincts serving the Perry Hall area: Precinct 8 in Parkville, which covers Dulaney Valley Road to Belair Road, and Precinct 9 in White Marsh, which covers Belair Road to Pulaski Highway.

"The police department has done an outstanding job at reducing violent crime," said David Marks, the Republican county council candidate for District 5, who served nine terms as Perry Hall Improvement Association president.

"We are fortunate to live in such a stable community," he said. "Police need to continue fighting those smaller crimes faced by Perry Hall residents. We still hear several reports of burglary and graffiti."

In Precinct 8:

• Homicides dropped from one to zero incidents.
• Car theft decreased from 82 to 59 incidents.
• Rapes dropped from four to three incidents.
• Robbery increased slightly from 26 to 27 incidents.
• Burglary decreased from 149 to 99 incidents.
• Arson remained the same at seven incidents.
• Theft decreased from 681 to 476 incidents. 

In Precinct 9:

• Homicides dropped from two to zero incidents.
• Car theft decreased from 124 to 74 incidents.
• Rapes dropped from six to four incidents.
• Robbery decreased from 62 to 40 incidents.
• Burglary decreased from 291 to 160 incidents.
• Arson dropped from nine to seven incidents.
• Theft decreased from 1380 to 1046 incidents.