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Property Crime Trends in Benton, Tennessee: A Decade of Fluctuations and Population Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Benton, located in Tennessee, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade, set against a backdrop of changing demographics. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 31.37%, from 51 to 35 incidents. During this same period, the population declined by 29.73%, from 2,688 to 1,889 residents.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a significant downward trend. In 2010, there were 21 burglaries, which decreased to just 1 in 2022, representing a 95.24% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 7.81 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 0.53 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries also decreased from 0.05% in 2010 to 0.01% in 2022. This substantial decline in burglaries suggests improved security measures or changing criminal behavior patterns within the community.
Larceny-theft incidents have fluctuated but show an overall increase. In 2010, there were 29 larceny-thefts, which rose to 32 in 2022, a 10.34% increase. However, when accounting for population changes, the rate increased more significantly from 10.79 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 16.94 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft incidents doubled from 0.02% in 2010 to 0.04% in 2022. This trend indicates that while other property crimes decreased, larceny-theft has become a more prevalent issue in the city.
Motor vehicle theft rates have remained relatively stable. There was 1 incident in 2010 and 2 in 2022. However, due to the population decrease, the rate per 1,000 people increased from 0.37 in 2010 to 1.06 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained low but increased slightly from 0.01% to 0.02% over the period. This suggests that while not a major concern, motor vehicle theft has become slightly more prevalent relative to the city's population.
Arson incidents have been rare in the city, with only one reported case in 2018. This isolated incident represented 0.2% of state arsons for that year. The lack of consistent arson reports indicates it is not a significant ongoing concern for the community.
Examining correlations between crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the population density decreased from 886 per square mile in 2010 to 622 in 2022, there was a corresponding decrease in overall property crime rates. This suggests that lower population density may contribute to reduced property crime opportunities.
The median income in the city increased substantially from $43,992 in 2013 to $59,017 in 2022, a 34.15% rise. This income growth coincided with the overall decrease in property crimes, particularly burglaries, indicating a possible correlation between improved economic conditions and reduced property crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continued gradual decrease in overall property crime rates. Burglaries are expected to remain low, potentially reaching near-zero levels. Larceny-theft is projected to stabilize or slightly decrease, while motor vehicle theft may continue to fluctuate at low levels. Arson incidents are predicted to remain rare or non-existent.
In summary, Benton has experienced a significant overall reduction in property crimes from 2010 to 2022, particularly in burglaries. This positive trend has occurred alongside population decline and increasing median income. The most notable concern is the relative increase in larceny-theft incidents, which have become more prevalent despite the overall crime reduction. These trends suggest that while the city has made progress in reducing property crimes, continued focus on preventing larceny-theft could further improve public safety in the coming years.
