Crimes against the person, including muggings and robberies, increased by 8% in the last year, despite overall recorded crime falling by 3%, figures from the British Crime Survey showed today.
Burglaries went up by 1% while car thefts increased by 2% in 2011.
Separate figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed "no statistically significant change in overall crime" with police recording 3% fewer incidents.
Deputy Chief Constable Douglas Paxton, of the Association of Chief Police Officers, praised police for a "reduction in crime and rise in public confidence ... alongside ongoing efforts to secure significant cash savings".
Violence against the person decreased by 7%, domestic burglaries dropped 3% and most other categories show reductions in police-recorded crime.
Mr Paxton added: "Particularly pleasing is the reduction in criminal damage shown in both police statistics and the crime survey.
"However there has been increases in opportunistic thefts and robbery offences and police forces are continuing their efforts to work with partners and the public to prevent these offences.
"The service is determined to continue to build on the good work reflected in these publications and the results are a credit to those officers and staff who have faced the challenge of major efficiencies while continuing to tackle crime in our communities."
The study, previously known as the British Crime Survey, was published by the Office for National Statistics for the first time.
In the past, the Home Office has been responsible for publishing the figures.