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Columbiana, Alabama: Dramatic Burglary Surge Amid Property Crime Fluctuations
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Columbiana, located in Alabama, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. Over the years from 2010 to 2022, the city experienced significant fluctuations in its total property crime incidents, with a notable increase from 108 in 2010 to 532 in 2022, representing a 392.6% rise. During this same period, the population grew from 6,477 to 7,454, an increase of 15.1%.
Burglary trends in the city have shown dramatic changes over the years. In 2010, there were 7 burglaries reported, which increased to 35 in 2011, a 400% jump. However, by 2018, the number had decreased to 15, only to skyrocket to 450 in 2022. This represents a staggering 2900% increase from 2018 to 2022. When examining burglaries per 1,000 people, the rate went from 1.08 in 2010 to 60.37 in 2022, indicating a significant rise in burglary incidents relative to population growth. The city's share of state burglaries also increased dramatically, from 0.03% in 2010 to 3.96% in 2022, suggesting a disproportionate rise compared to state-wide trends.
Larceny-theft incidents have shown a different pattern. In 2010, there were 99 reported cases, which decreased to 68 in 2016, before rising slightly to 89 in 2018. However, 2022 saw a decrease to 76 incidents. When adjusted for population, the rate of larceny-theft per 1,000 people decreased from 15.29 in 2010 to 10.19 in 2022. The city's percentage of state larceny-theft incidents increased slightly from 0.14% in 2010 to 0.16% in 2022, indicating a relatively stable share of state-wide larceny-theft cases.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has remained relatively low but volatile. From 2 incidents in 2010, it peaked at 9 in 2011 and 2018, before settling at 6 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people fluctuated from 0.31 in 2010 to 0.80 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased from 0.03% in 2010 to 0.09% in 2022, suggesting a slight increase in the city's contribution to state-wide motor vehicle theft incidents.
Arson data for the city is largely unavailable, with most years reporting "No Data Available." The only year with a concrete figure is 2022, which reported 0 arson incidents. This lack of data makes it challenging to analyze trends or draw meaningful conclusions about arson in the city.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The dramatic increase in burglaries coincides with a period of increasing racial diversity in the city. From 2013 to 2022, the white population percentage decreased from 79% to 68%, while the black population increased from 9% to 23%. This demographic shift occurred alongside the surge in burglary incidents, though a direct causal relationship cannot be inferred without further investigation.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next seven years (up to 2029, which is five years from now in 2024) suggests a potential continuation of the upward trend in burglaries if current conditions persist. However, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft may remain relatively stable or show slight increases based on their historical patterns.
In summary, Columbiana has experienced a significant increase in property crimes, primarily driven by a dramatic rise in burglaries. This trend, coupled with demographic changes and relatively stable larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft rates, paints a complex picture of the city's evolving crime landscape. The disproportionate increase in the city's share of state-wide burglaries is particularly noteworthy and may warrant focused attention from local law enforcement and community leaders.
