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Property Crime Decline in Edwardsville: A Decade of Positive Change
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Edwardsville, Illinois, a city known for its rich history and home to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has experienced notable shifts in property crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes in the city decreased significantly by 54.6%, from 432 to 196 incidents. This substantial reduction occurred alongside a population growth of 9.9%, from 27,183 to 29,879 residents during the same period.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a marked decline over the years. In 2010, there were 42 burglaries reported, which decreased to just 6 in 2022, representing an 85.7% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 1.55 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 0.20 per 1,000 in 2022. Interestingly, while the number of burglaries decreased, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated. In 2010, Edwardsville accounted for 0.08% of state burglaries, dropping to a low of 0.03% in 2020, but then spiking to 0.31% in 2021 before settling at 0.04% in 2022. This volatility suggests that while local efforts may have been effective in reducing burglaries, the city's contribution to state totals varied significantly year to year.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also saw a substantial decrease. In 2010, there were 380 larceny-theft incidents, which dropped to 173 in 2022, a 54.5% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 13.98 in 2010 to 5.79 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft incidents decreased from 0.23% in 2010 to 0.17% in 2022, indicating that the reduction in larceny-theft outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft showed a more complex trend. While the number of incidents increased from 10 in 2010 to 17 in 2022, representing a 70% increase, the rate per 1,000 residents only marginally increased from 0.37 to 0.57. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts rose from 0.04% in 2010 to 0.06% in 2022, suggesting that this type of crime became relatively more prevalent in Edwardsville compared to the state average.
Arson cases in the city remained low throughout the period, with only occasional incidents reported. The most recent data shows 2 arson cases in 2022, representing 0.3% of state arsons, up from 0.1% in 2010. Due to the low numbers, it's difficult to draw significant conclusions about arson trends.
Examining correlations between property crime and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the median income increased from $81,776 in 2013 to $91,686 in 2022, property crime rates generally decreased. This suggests a potential inverse relationship between economic prosperity and property crime. Additionally, the slight decrease in home ownership rates from 73% in 2013 to 71% in 2022 coincided with the overall reduction in property crimes, though the correlation here is less clear.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a potential continuation of the overall downward trend, albeit at a slower rate. Burglaries and larceny-theft are expected to stabilize or decrease slightly, while motor vehicle theft may continue to see small increases. However, these predictions should be interpreted cautiously due to the potential impact of unforeseen socio-economic factors.
In conclusion, Edwardsville has experienced a significant overall reduction in property crimes from 2010 to 2022, particularly in burglaries and larceny-theft, despite population growth. This trend, coupled with rising median incomes, suggests improving safety and quality of life for residents. However, the slight uptick in motor vehicle thefts and the fluctuating contribution to state crime rates indicate areas that may require continued attention from local law enforcement and policymakers to maintain and improve upon these positive trends in the coming years.
