Loading Content...
Property Crime Decline in Niceville, Florida: A Decade of Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Niceville, located in Florida, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of property crimes fluctuated, ultimately decreasing by 79.57% from 235 to 48 incidents. This significant reduction occurred alongside a population growth of 13.98%, from 20,076 to 22,883 residents during the same period.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a notable downward trend. In 2010, there were 49 burglaries, which decreased to 13 in 2020, representing a 73.47% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 2.44 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 0.57 per 1,000 in 2020. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 0.05% in 2010, peaking at 0.11% in 2016, and settling at 0.04% in 2020. This trend suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies targeting burglaries.
Larceny-theft incidents also decreased significantly over the decade. In 2010, there were 171 cases, which dropped to 32 in 2020, an 81.29% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 8.52 in 2010 to 1.40 in 2020. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft cases fluctuated between 0.02% and 0.08% during this period, ending at 0.02% in 2020. This substantial reduction in larceny-theft could indicate improved community awareness and crime prevention efforts.
Motor vehicle theft showed a similar declining trend. From 15 incidents in 2010, the number dropped to 3 in 2020, an 80% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 0.75 to 0.13 over the same period. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts ranged from 0.01% to 0.06%, ending at 0.01% in 2020. This improvement might be attributed to better vehicle security systems and increased public vigilance.
Arson cases in the city were sporadic and minimal. Only two incidents were reported over the decade: one in 2012 and another in 2015. This rarity makes it difficult to establish meaningful trends or correlations for arson in the city.
Examining correlations reveals some interesting patterns. The substantial decrease in property crimes coincided with a steady increase in median income, rising from $74,891 in 2013 to $88,209.50 in 2020. This suggests a potential link between improved economic conditions and reduced property crime rates. Additionally, the slight decrease in home ownership rates from 76% in 2013 to 70% in 2020 doesn't appear to have negatively impacted property crime rates, which continued to decline during this period.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), the city could see further reductions in property crime rates. Burglaries might decrease to around 5-7 incidents per year, larceny-theft could drop to 20-25 cases annually, and motor vehicle thefts might become even rarer, potentially averaging 1-2 incidents per year.
In conclusion, Niceville has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in property crime statistics over the past decade. The significant reductions in burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft, coupled with minimal arson incidents, paint a picture of a community becoming safer despite population growth. These trends, if continued, suggest a positive outlook for public safety in the coming years, potentially making the city live up to its name as an increasingly nice place to reside.
