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Lanark, Illinois: Property Crime Trends in a Small City with Increasing Larceny-Theft Rates
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Lanark, located in Illinois, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends. With a population of 1,901 in 2022 and covering just 1.12 square miles, this small city has seen fluctuations in both its population and crime rates over recent years. From 2016 to 2022, the total number of property crimes remained stable at 7 incidents, despite a slight population increase from 1,875 to 1,901 during the same period, representing a 1.39% growth.
The burglary trend in the city shows a notable decrease over time. In 2016, there was 1 reported burglary, which dropped to 0 in 2018 and 2022, with a brief spike to 2 incidents in 2019. This translates to a rate that fell from 0.53 per 1,000 residents in 2016 to 0 per 1,000 in 2022. The percentage of state burglaries attributed to the city remained consistently low, at 0% for most years, with a slight increase to 0.01% in 2019. This downward trend in burglaries suggests improved security measures or community vigilance.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, showed an increase over the years. From 5 incidents in 2016, it dropped to 1 in 2018, rose to 4 in 2019, and then increased significantly to 7 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents rose from 2.67 in 2016 to 3.68 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures increased from 0% in 2016 to 0.01% in 2022, indicating a growing share of this crime type relative to the state.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed a declining trend. There was 1 incident reported in 2016, which decreased to 0 in subsequent years (2018, 2019, and 2022). This resulted in a rate drop from 0.53 per 1,000 residents in 2016 to 0 in later years. The city's percentage of state motor vehicle thefts also decreased from 0.01% in 2016 to 0% in subsequent years, suggesting improved vehicle security or reduced opportunities for this crime.
Arson incidents remained consistently at 0 throughout the reported years (2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022). This stability indicates either effective fire prevention measures or a lack of arson attempts in the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between property crime trends and population density. As the population density fluctuated from 1,673 per square mile in 2016 to 1,696 in 2022, the total property crime rate remained relatively stable. Additionally, there seems to be a correlation between the racial composition and crime rates. As the white population percentage slightly increased from 93% in 2016 to 94% in 2022, the overall property crime rate remained constant, suggesting a possible link between demographic stability and crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, it's projected that by 2029, Lanark may experience a slight increase in larceny-theft incidents, potentially reaching 8-9 cases annually. Burglary and motor vehicle theft rates are expected to remain low or at zero. The overall property crime rate is predicted to stay relatively stable, fluctuating between 7-10 incidents per year.
In summary, Lanark has maintained a relatively stable property crime environment despite minor population fluctuations. The most significant trend is the shift from varied property crimes to a predominance of larceny-theft, while other types of property crime have decreased or remained at zero. This trend, coupled with the city's demographic stability, suggests a focused approach to crime prevention might be beneficial, particularly in addressing larceny-theft issues.
