With stressed, anxious and fearful society trends, TRUE and Accurate crime rates go up. People become desperate and do things they normally wouldn't under less stressed conditions.
Regarding lower crime rates, much of it is due to better and more accurate reporting. Ten years ago fo example, I would make a simple dope/possession case. That dope stat was pushed from our agency to another and thus double reporting of a single case. Nothing was intentional, just a system needing tweaking. Been in Anchorage only 9 years but, do I think based on today's info it is more or less safe?  I will go with Less. And, maybe it is just better knowledge of certain areas within Anchorage. .  .  Time to refocus and bring back the neighborhood cop, on foot, that knows everyone and has ice tea with old ladies.   It works. And no, I do not work for APD or the state.  Stay safe!