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Property Crime Trends in Clute, Texas: A Decade of Fluctuations and Homeownership Impact
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Clute, Texas, a small urban area of 5.69 square miles, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 9.4%, from 361 to 327 incidents. During this same period, the population decreased by 4%, from 11,432 to 10,977 residents, indicating a complex relationship between crime rates and population dynamics.
Burglary trends in the city have shown significant variability. In 2010, there were 107 burglaries, which decreased to 21 in 2015, representing an 80.4% reduction. However, by 2022, burglaries surged to 123 incidents, a 485.7% increase from 2015. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents rose from 9.36 in 2010 to 11.21 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries also increased dramatically, from 0.06% in 2010 to 0.16% in 2022, indicating a growing concentration of burglary incidents relative to the state average.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in the city, demonstrated a general downward trend. In 2010, there were 244 larceny thefts, which decreased to 175 in 2022, a 28.3% reduction. The larceny theft rate per 1,000 residents also decreased from 21.34 in 2010 to 15.94 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny theft remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 0.03% and 0.06% throughout the period, suggesting that the local trend aligns with broader state patterns.
Motor vehicle theft showed an upward trend over the years. In 2010, there were 10 incidents, which increased to 29 in 2022, a 190% rise. The rate per 1,000 residents grew from 0.87 in 2010 to 2.64 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased from 0.02% in 2010 to 0.04% in 2022, indicating a faster growth rate compared to the state average.
Arson cases in the city were sporadic and infrequent. The highest number recorded was 3 incidents in 2010, with several years reporting zero cases. Due to the low numbers, meaningful trends or rates per 1,000 residents cannot be reliably established for arson.
Examining correlations, a strong relationship emerged between property crime rates and racial demographics. As the Hispanic population increased from 46% in 2013 to 55% in 2022, property crimes showed an overall upward trend, rising from 162 in 2014 to 327 in 2022. Concurrently, the white population decreased from 40% to 31%, suggesting a potential link between changing demographics and crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, property crimes could increase by approximately 20-25%, reaching around 390-410 incidents annually. Burglaries are expected to continue their upward trend, potentially accounting for a larger proportion of overall property crimes.
In summary, Clute has experienced diverse trends across different property crime categories. While larceny theft has decreased, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts have shown concerning increases. The city's changing demographic composition appears to correlate with these crime trends, suggesting a need for targeted community-based crime prevention strategies. As the city continues to evolve, addressing these property crime challenges will be crucial for maintaining public safety and community well-being.
