Awareness and detail of individual crimes is more available.
“Crime” is too broad a word. Violent crime? Sure. Porch pirates, car break ins, public intoxication/defecation, graffiti, public disturbances that people notice more, and may not be reported? Feels higher.
Was 2003 a bad year for crime? …aside from war crimes.
2003 wasn't great in hindsight, but peak homicide rate in the US was closer to 1993.
"Twenty years ago" was the 1980s and I'll never believe otherwise.
A lot of recent perception comes from the U-Line owner publishing fake newspapers: