Loading Content...
Dramatic Property Crime Decline in Lewistown, Montana: A Decade of Safety Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Lewistown, Montana, a small city with a rich history in central Montana, has experienced fluctuating property crime rates over the past decade. From 2011 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly by 96.55%, from 87 to 3 incidents. During this same period, the population decreased by 3.68%, from 7,099 to 6,838 residents.
Burglary trends in the city have shown substantial variability. In 2011, there were 21 burglaries, which decreased to just 1 in 2022, representing a 95.24% reduction. The burglary rate per 1,000 people fell from 2.96 in 2011 to 0.15 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries also declined, from 1.06% in 2011 to 0.06% in 2022. This dramatic decrease suggests improved security measures or changes in local policing strategies.
Larceny-theft incidents have also decreased significantly. In 2011, there were 58 larceny-thefts, which dropped to only 1 in 2022, a 98.28% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people decreased from 8.17 in 2011 to 0.15 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-thefts fell from 0.45% to 0.01% over this period. This substantial decline in larceny-thefts could indicate enhanced community awareness or improved property protection measures.
Motor vehicle theft trends have shown a similar downward trajectory. In 2011, there were 8 motor vehicle thefts, which decreased to 1 in 2022, an 87.5% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 1.13 in 2011 to 0.15 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased from 0.96% to 0.06%. This reduction might suggest improved vehicle security systems or more effective law enforcement strategies.
Arson incidents have remained relatively low but showed some fluctuation. In 2011, there was 1 reported arson case, and this number remained the same in 2022. However, there were years with no reported arsons, such as 2013 and 2014. The arson rate per 1,000 people remained stable at around 0.14. Interestingly, the city's share of state arsons decreased slightly from 1.22% in 2011 to 1.12% in 2022, despite the same number of incidents, indicating a possible increase in arson cases statewide.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the population density decreased from 1,240 people per square mile in 2011 to 1,194 in 2022, there was a corresponding decrease in property crimes. This suggests that lower population density might contribute to reduced property crime rates. Additionally, the median income increased from $41,571 in 2013 to $41,893 in 2022, which coincided with the overall decrease in property crimes, potentially indicating that improved economic conditions may have played a role in crime reduction.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continued decline in overall property crime rates. Based on the current trends, we can expect the number of property crimes to remain low, potentially stabilizing around 1-3 incidents per year. However, it's important to note that in small communities, even minor fluctuations can appear as significant percentage changes.
In summary, Lewistown has experienced a remarkable decrease in property crimes over the past decade, with significant reductions in burglaries, larceny-thefts, and motor vehicle thefts. This positive trend, coupled with stable arson rates and improving economic indicators, paints a picture of a city that has made substantial progress in enhancing public safety and reducing property crime. As the community looks towards the future, maintaining these low crime rates will likely be a priority for local law enforcement and community leaders.
