PORTLAND (AP) – A rash of drug-related robberies contributed to a nearly 10 percent rise in violent crime in Maine last year, while the state’s overall crime numbers increased slightly following three years of decline, officials said.

The overall numbers, which had dropped by a total of 4.1 percent from 2002 to 2004, went up 0.4 percent, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara said. Violent crime increased 9.6 percent in 2005 and property crime was up 0.3 percent.

“2005 was the deadliest year in Maine for drug overdoses and a rash of bank, pharmacy and convenience store robberies were fueled by the demand for money to feed growing drug habits,” Cantara said.

There were 190 deaths from drug overdoses last year, exceeding the state’s 169 motor vehicle fatalities, he said, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency reported a substantial increase in cocaine and methamphetamine arrests.

There were 19 homicides, equaling the total for 2004 and below the state’s historic average of 24 a year. Ten of the 2005 murders were linked to domestic violence involving family or household members.

Aggravated assaults increased by 12.1 percent and domestic violence assaults were up by 5.2 percent. Domestic violence had dropped by 3.2 percent in 2004 after an 11.4 percent increase the year before.

Reported rape cases, which decreased sharply during the previous two years, increased by 2.5 percent.

“The work never ends to rid Maine of domestic violence and sexual assault. Law enforcement, advocates and the courts will continue to work to improve Maine’s ability to prevent and respond to these crimes,” Cantara said.

Crime in urban areas, defined as communities with full-time police departments, decreased by 0.5 percent; rural areas, patrolled by state police and sheriff’s departments, showed a 4.4 percent increase.

The crime numbers are compiled annually by the Uniform Crime Reporting Division of the Department of Public Safety and are based on reported crimes from local, county and state law enforcement agencies.

The 2005 statistics show that 33,441 offenses included in the crime index were reported to police last year, an increase of 0.4 percent over the 33,298 reported in 2004. The 33,441 index offenses in 2005 represent a crime rate of 25.4 offenses per 1,000 people, which compares to a 2004 national average of 40 offenses per 1,000.