Fifteen people have been murdered in Atlantic City so far this year — more than in all of 2011.

Rudi Von Briel, Getty Images
Rudi Von Briel, Getty Images
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The figure comes as the resort struggles to keep gamblers and their money coming.

Yet only two of the victims were tourists. An 80-year-old Canadian woman and her 47-year-old daughter were stabbed to death, allegedly by a deranged homeless woman across the street from a casino.

The stakes could not be higher for the city, which is dealing with a nearly six-year plunge in its casino revenue and the loss of thousands of jobs. Public Safety Director William Glass says Atlantic City is safe, and wants people to visit in greater numbers.

The city and state are adding money and manpower to better protect the streets.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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