Loading Content...
Property Crime Decline in Hyattsville: A Decade of Positive Change
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hyattsville, located in Maryland, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. From 2010 to 2019, the city experienced a significant decrease in total property crimes, dropping from 1,496 to 1,112, a 25.7% reduction. This decline occurred alongside population growth, with the number of residents increasing from 20,301 in 2010 to 23,038 in 2022, representing a 13.5% rise.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a consistent downward trend. In 2010, there were 166 burglaries, which decreased to 54 in 2019, marking a 67.5% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 8.18 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 2.67 per 1,000 in 2019. The city's share of state burglaries also declined, from 1.32% in 2010 to 0.70% in 2019. This substantial decrease suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies targeting burglaries.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the area, also saw a decline, though less pronounced than burglary. The number of incidents dropped from 1,233 in 2010 to 996 in 2019, a 19.2% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 60.74 to 49.28 during this period. Interestingly, while the absolute number of larceny-thefts decreased, the city's share of state larceny-thefts slightly decreased from 3.51% to 3.24%, indicating that the reduction in this crime category was somewhat in line with state-wide trends.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed fluctuations but an overall decreasing trend. In 2010, there were 97 reported cases, which reduced to 62 in 2019, a 36.1% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 4.78 to 3.07. The city's contribution to state motor vehicle thefts decreased slightly from 1.57% to 1.22% over this period, suggesting that the city's efforts in reducing this crime were somewhat more effective than the state average.
Regarding arson, the data available is limited and shows zero reported cases from 2010 to 2019, except for 2016 where data was not available. This consistent zero rate suggests either highly effective fire prevention and investigation measures or potential underreporting of arson incidents.
A notable correlation exists between the decreasing property crime rates and the increasing median income in the city. The median income rose from $65,054 in 2013 to $75,372 in 2019, a 15.9% increase. This economic improvement coincided with the overall reduction in property crimes, suggesting that enhanced economic conditions may contribute to lower crime rates.
The racial demographics of the city have also shifted during this period, with the Hispanic population increasing from 35% in 2013 to 38% in 2019, while the Black population decreased from 38% to 30%. These demographic changes occurred alongside the decrease in property crimes, though a direct causal relationship cannot be established without further analysis.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that by 2029, the city could see further reductions in property crimes. Burglaries might decrease to around 30-35 cases annually, larceny-theft could potentially drop to approximately 800-850 incidents, and motor vehicle thefts might stabilize around 50-55 cases per year.
In summary, Hyattsville has demonstrated a positive trend in reducing property crimes over the past decade, particularly in burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. This improvement, occurring alongside population growth and increasing median income, suggests a multifaceted approach to crime reduction that may include economic development, community policing, and improved security measures. The city's evolving demographic makeup adds another layer of complexity to these trends, highlighting the need for continued adaptive strategies in crime prevention and community safety.
