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Property Crime Surge in Clever, Missouri: A Growing Community's Challenge
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Clever, Missouri, a small but growing community, has experienced significant changes in its property crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes increased from 2 to 16, representing a 700% increase. During this same period, the population grew from 4,240 to 5,865, a 38.3% increase. This disparity between crime and population growth rates suggests a complex evolution of the city's safety profile.
Burglary trends in the city have fluctuated over the years. In 2010, there was 1 reported burglary, which increased to a peak of 6 in 2014, before settling at 5 in 2022. The burglary rate per 1,000 residents rose from 0.24 in 2010 to 0.85 in 2022, indicating a disproportionate increase compared to population growth. Notably, the city's contribution to state burglary statistics increased significantly, from negligible levels in 2010 to 0.04% in 2022. This suggests that while the absolute numbers remain low, the city is experiencing a growing share of the state's burglary incidents relative to its size.
Larceny-theft has shown the most dramatic increase among property crimes. From a single incident in 2010, it rose to 11 cases in 2022, a 1000% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents grew from 0.24 in 2010 to 1.88 in 2022. Despite this substantial local increase, the city's contribution to state larceny-theft statistics remained relatively low, at 0.01% in 2022. This indicates that while larceny-theft has become more prevalent within the city, it remains a small fraction of the state's total.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has remained relatively low and inconsistent. There were no reported cases in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2022. The highest number of incidents was 2 in 2016 and 2019. The sporadic nature of these incidents suggests they may be isolated events rather than a consistent trend. The city's contribution to state motor vehicle theft statistics has fluctuated accordingly, reaching a maximum of 0.01% in years with reported incidents.
Arson has been consistently absent from the city's crime statistics, with no reported cases from 2010 to 2022. This absence is notable and suggests effective fire prevention measures or possibly underreporting.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The increase in property crimes, particularly larceny-theft, coincides with a period of rising population density, which grew from 2,824 people per square mile in 2010 to 3,907 in 2022. This could suggest that increased urbanization may be contributing to more opportunities for property crime. Additionally, the median income rose from $57,294 in 2013 to $64,724 in 2022, which might indicate a growing affluence that could attract property crimes.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a potential continuation of the upward trend in overall property crimes, primarily driven by larceny-theft. If current patterns persist, the city might expect to see around 20-25 total property crimes annually by 2029, with larceny-theft potentially accounting for 15-18 of these incidents. Burglaries might stabilize around 5-7 cases per year, while motor vehicle theft could remain sporadic with 0-2 incidents annually.
In summary, Clever has experienced a significant increase in property crimes, particularly larceny-theft, that outpaces its population growth. This trend, coupled with the city's increasing contribution to state crime statistics, suggests a shifting urban dynamic that may require targeted law enforcement strategies and community engagement to address. The absence of arson and the low incidence of motor vehicle theft are positive aspects of the city's safety profile. As the community continues to grow and develop, maintaining a balance between economic progress and public safety will be crucial for Clever's future prosperity and quality of life.
