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For the 22nd consecutive month, crime in Chicago decreased, according to statistics announced Sunday by Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis.

Total crime in the city was down 3.7 percent compared with this time last year and property and violent index offenses declined 2 percent and 9.8 percent respectively.

Weis said there were 379 murders committed through the end of October, nine fewer than last year at this time, resulting in a 2.3 percent decrease. The drop keeps the city on pace with 2007, a year in which the murder total was the lowest since 1965, Weis said.

"These are the positive results of the excellent work of the men and women of our police force," he said. "We are headed in the right direction, but we still have a lot to do."

The numbers showed all violent crimes were down: aggravated assaults down 12.2 percent, robbery down 11.6 percent and criminal sexual assault down 7.6 percent.

Property crimes -- burglary, theft and arson -- declined across the board. However, the exception to this was motor vehicle theft, which rose by 22.7 percent.

Weis also announced that a drug bust near 33rd and Pulaski on Friday netted nearly $5 million in heroin and cocaine.

"This is another significant blow to drug trade in Chicago," Weis said.

More than half the homicides so far this year were gang-involved, Weis said. He emphasized the importance of the department's continuing focus on gang lifestyle in order to decrease murders.

The recent warning to gangs that swift action would be taken against the gang involved in the next homicide in the city was put into action. The gang responsible was identified and more than 60 of its members arrested and charged with offenses that included first-degree murder and weapons- and drug-related offenses Weis said.

Outreach and educational efforts must be stepped up in order to keep kids "out of this deadly life choice," Weis said.