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Benson, North Carolina: Property Crime Trends and Population Growth
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Benson, located in North Carolina, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the years, alongside significant population growth. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 24.3%, from 243 to 184 incidents. During this same period, the population grew by 10.9%, from 10,636 to 11,794 residents, indicating a general trend of decreasing crime rates relative to population growth.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial decline over time. In 2010, there were 76 burglaries, which dropped to 38 by 2022, representing a 50% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 7.14 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 3.22 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, peaking at 0.27% in 2016 before settling at 0.16% in 2022. This significant reduction in burglaries, despite population growth, suggests improved security measures or changing socioeconomic conditions in the area.
Larceny-theft trends have been more volatile but ultimately showed a decrease. In 2010, there were 148 incidents, which reduced to 131 by 2022, an 11.5% decrease. The rate per 1,000 people dropped from 13.91 in 2010 to 11.11 in 2022. The city's proportion of state larceny-thefts remained relatively stable, ranging between 0.10% and 0.16% throughout the period. This trend indicates a modest improvement in preventing petty thefts and shoplifting incidents.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has seen minor fluctuations. There were 19 incidents in 2010, which decreased to 15 in 2022, a 21.1% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 1.79 in 2010 to 1.27 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts varied, reaching a high of 0.24% in 2016 before decreasing to 0.10% in 2022. This suggests that while motor vehicle theft remains a concern, it has not escalated with population growth.
Arson cases in the city have been relatively rare but show an increasing trend. From no reported cases in 2010, there was 1 incident in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people went from 0 to 0.08 in this period. The city's proportion of state arsons increased from 0% to 0.11% by 2022. While the numbers are small, this upward trend warrants attention from local law enforcement.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As median income increased from $38,779 in 2013 to $47,710 in 2022, property crime rates generally decreased. Additionally, there's a noticeable correlation between the increase in the Black population (from 7% in 2013 to 17% in 2022) and the overall decrease in property crimes, suggesting that demographic changes may be influencing crime trends.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we can expect a continued gradual decrease in overall property crime rates if current socioeconomic trends persist. Burglary and larceny-theft are likely to continue their downward trajectory, while motor vehicle theft may stabilize. Arson cases, though few, may require increased vigilance due to their recent upward trend.
In summary, Benson has demonstrated a positive trend in reducing property crime rates despite population growth. The significant decrease in burglaries, coupled with modest reductions in larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft, paints a picture of improving public safety. However, the slight increase in arson cases and the fluctuating proportion of state crime percentages suggest that ongoing attention to crime prevention strategies remains crucial for maintaining and further improving the city's safety profile.
