Loading Content...
Cedar Bluff's Property Crime Decline: A Decade of Improvement Despite Population Loss
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Cedar Bluff, located in Alabama, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes fluctuated significantly, with a notable overall decrease of 69.6% from 135 incidents in 2010 to 41 in 2022. This decline occurred against a backdrop of population change, with the town's population decreasing by 18.1% from 4,123 in 2010 to 3,377 in 2022.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a dramatic decline over the years. In 2010, there were 21 burglaries reported, which decreased to just 6 in 2022, representing a 71.4% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 5.09 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 1.78 per 1,000 in 2022. Interestingly, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, peaking at 0.24% in 2013 before dropping to 0.05% in 2022. This significant decrease in burglaries suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies in the area.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also experienced a substantial decrease. In 2010, there were 93 larceny-theft incidents, which dropped to 29 in 2022, marking a 68.8% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 22.56 in 2010 to 8.59 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft incidents remained relatively low, peaking at 0.17% in 2011 and dropping to 0.06% by 2022. This trend indicates a significant improvement in preventing petty thefts and shoplifting in the community.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has shown a more volatile trend. Starting with 21 incidents in 2010, it dropped to a low of 1 in 2018, but then increased to 6 in 2022. Despite this recent uptick, the overall trend shows a 71.4% decrease from 2010 to 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 5.09 in 2010 to 1.78 in 2022. Notably, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased from 0.35% in 2010 to 0.09% in 2022, despite the lower number of incidents, suggesting a potentially disproportionate improvement compared to the state average.
Arson data for the city is largely unavailable, with only two years (2011 and 2021) reporting zero incidents. The lack of consistent data makes it challenging to draw meaningful conclusions about arson trends in the area.
Examining correlations between property crime and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the population density decreased from 857 per square mile in 2010 to 702 in 2022, property crime rates also generally declined. This suggests a potential link between lower population density and reduced property crime. Additionally, the increase in homeownership from 70% in 2013 to 80% in 2022 coincided with the overall decrease in property crimes, potentially indicating that higher rates of homeownership contribute to community stability and lower crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends suggests a potential stabilization or slight increase in the coming years. By 2029, five years from now, the city might expect to see property crime incidents ranging between 45-50 per year, assuming current socioeconomic conditions and law enforcement strategies remain consistent.
In summary, Cedar Bluff has experienced a significant overall reduction in property crimes from 2010 to 2022, with particularly notable decreases in burglary and larceny-theft. This positive trend, occurring alongside demographic changes such as increased homeownership and decreased population density, suggests a general improvement in community safety and security. However, the recent uptick in motor vehicle thefts and the potential for a slight increase in overall property crimes in the coming years highlight the need for continued vigilance and proactive crime prevention strategies.
