CRIME DOWN AT THIS YEAR’S SXSW

  

Authorities in Austin say there was a drop in crime and the number of arrests at this year's South by Southwest Conference and Festival.

The Austin American-Statesman reports preliminary numbers show about 100 fewer crimes this year than in 2015.

Police say the number of arrests downtown during the festival was down by about half, from 323 in 2015 to 161 this year.

Since a driver killed four people and injured dozens more at the 2014 festival, police have expanded the presence of officers throughout the event.