Lawmakers are not the only ones taking action during the current cash crunch as Honolulu police warn that the recession could spur criminal activity as desperate people turn to crime to survive.

Honolulu Police Chief Boisse P. Correa praised his officers' work toward pushing the island's crime rate to a 34-year low last year but cautioned that police are seeing an increase of "street robberies," auto theft and burglaries.

"I'm very proud of the men and women of the Honolulu Police Department. When all the figures come out at the end of the year, we will be the safest community in the U.S.," Correa said. "We're not going to rest on our laurels. The economy will affect crime. We expect crime to go up in some areas."

Correa, in a news conference, also said he will renew his call for a total ban on fireworks.

FBI statistics released Monday showed that Honolulu saw a 22 percent reduction in crime during the first half of 2008. The only category to increase in that period was burglaries, which numbered 3,071 compared with 2,888 for the similar period in 2007.

"Any time you have a difficult economy as we have, there is some element of desperation by us all, people in crime and people not in crime," said Kendrick D. Williams, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's Honolulu division.

"If there is any increase, it will be in crimes of opportunity," Williams said. "When you leave your car door unlocked and you got something sitting on the seat, if times are difficult, people look for those opportunities more in earnest. It presents an opportunity for a quick theft."

Simple assault and domestic abuse increase during periods of economic uncertainty as do crimes connected to alcohol and drug abuse as people lash out in anger or attempt to self-medicate, officials said.

Many of the crimes that increase during economic downturns are not recorded by the FBI's uniform crime reporting, which covers, murder, rape, assault, burglary, robbery, theft, auto-theft and arson, officials said.

"Minor theft and simple assault, including most domestic assaults, in times of economic difficulty it is these types of crimes that increase most," said Ronald F. Becker, an attorney and former Texas state sheriff who teaches Criminal Justice and Criminology at Chaminade University. But he added that as the economy improves, crime in all categories will increase.

"Once a recovery is apparent, we can look for more crime and more criminals," Becker said.

City Councilman Donovan M. Dela Cruz, chairman of the council's Public Safety & Services Committee, said he has had an increase in calls from constituents complaining of crime, and has seen first-hand an increase in crime where he lives.

"In my apartment complex over the last two weeks, all the mail boxes were jammed open and we've had some identity theft. Now I'm getting my mail from the post office directly."

Council Chairman Todd K. Apo said funding public safety programs will continue to be a top priority. "The first responders are critical to our community but it doesn't mean they are immune (to budget cuts). Investing the money in prevention is well-worth the money spent."

During a wide-ranging news conference, Correa said police will join with the Honolulu Fire Department to propose legislation banning all commercial fireworks.

During the recent holiday season, Honolulu police arrested two people for fireworks distribution, and cited five adults and nine juveniles for fireworks violations. The proliferation of illegal aerial fireworks has concerned Correa and he said community outcry has reached the point that it is time to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

"We go before the Legislature every year and this year we have an opportunity," Correa said. "Let's have the ban then we'll see how we can enforce the law. The big thing is to change the mentality. Enough is enough when it comes to fireworks."

Correa also thanked Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and city administrators for allowing the department to recruit more officers despite a city-wide hiring freeze.

The department's ranks are nearly full and police districts are receiving the maximum amount of patrol coverage possible.

He said the department is looking to cut or reduce nonpreventive programs and use more volunteers while looking to trim more than 3 percent of its more than $200 million-a-year operating budget. The department could triple the current number of volunteers, from 100 to 300.