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Property Crime Trends in Bemidji: Lakes, Larceny, and Local Challenges
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Bemidji, located in Minnesota, has experienced fluctuations in property crime rates over the years, alongside population growth. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes increased by 23.1%, from 982 to 1,209 incidents. During this same period, the population grew by 7%, from 21,233 to 22,714 residents.
Burglary trends in the city have shown a general decline over the years. In 2010, there were 82 burglaries, which decreased to 85 in 2022, representing a 3.7% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate decreased from 3.86 to 3.74 per 1,000 residents. Interestingly, despite this decrease, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.47% in 2010 to 0.82% in 2022. This suggests that while the city has made progress in reducing burglaries, it has become a larger contributor to the state's overall burglary figures.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in the city, saw an increase over the studied period. In 2010, there were 872 larceny thefts, which rose to 1,076 in 2022, marking a 23.4% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 41.07 to 47.37. The city's contribution to state larceny thefts also grew from 1.09% to 1.44% during this time. This trend indicates a growing challenge in addressing larceny theft within the community.
Motor vehicle theft showed a significant increase from 28 incidents in 2010 to 48 in 2022, a 71.4% rise. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 1.32 to 2.11. However, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased from 0.42% to 0.31%, suggesting that this increase was less severe compared to state-wide trends.
Arson cases in the city, while relatively low in number, more than doubled from 3 incidents in 2010 to 7 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 0.14 to 0.31. The city's contribution to state arson cases rose dramatically from 0.5% to 1.31%, indicating a disproportionate increase compared to state trends.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between property crime trends and changes in population density. As the population density increased from 1,217 per square mile in 2010 to 1,302 in 2022, total property crimes also rose. Additionally, there's a notable correlation between the decrease in owner-occupied housing (from 63% in 2013 to 54% in 2022) and the increase in property crimes, particularly larceny theft.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, total property crimes could reach approximately 1,350 incidents annually. Larceny theft is expected to continue as the predominant property crime, potentially exceeding 1,200 cases per year. Motor vehicle thefts may approach 60 incidents annually, while burglaries could stabilize around 90 cases per year.
In conclusion, Bemidji faces evolving challenges in property crime, with larceny theft and motor vehicle theft showing concerning upward trends. The increasing contribution to state crime percentages in several categories suggests that targeted interventions may be necessary to address these issues effectively. The correlation between declining home ownership and rising property crimes also warrants attention from city planners and policymakers.
