While most of the Hattiesburg’s major crime from January through May dropped 13 percent compared to that time last year, the city saw an increase in commercial burglaries, rapes and homicides.

Commercial burglaries increased 7 percent from last year, going from 57 to 61. That’s according to statistics released by the Hattiesburg Police Department. Homicides went from one in the first five months of 2008 to two in the same time period this year, while rapes increased 36 percent from 11 to 15.

Police spokesman Synarus Green said department officials are hoping that current efforts to increase police patrols and enforce a curfew for local youth during the summer will curb major crime even more.