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Property Crime Trends in Columbus, Kansas: A Decade of Fluctuations
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Columbus, located in Kansas, has experienced fluctuating property crime rates over the past decade, alongside a gradual population decline. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes increased by 17.6%, from 51 to 60 incidents. During the same period, the population decreased by 9.1%, from 3,870 to 3,518 residents.
Burglary trends in the city have shown significant variation. In 2010, there were 10 burglaries, which peaked at 25 in 2013, and then decreased to 8 in 2022. This represents a 20% decrease over the 12-year period. The burglary rate per 1,000 people increased from 2.58 in 2010 to 6.25 in 2013, before dropping to 2.27 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, rising from 0.07% in 2010 to a high of 0.33% in 2014, before settling at 0.13% in 2022. These fluctuations suggest periods of increased vulnerability to burglaries, followed by potential improvements in prevention or law enforcement strategies.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in the city, increased by 35.1% from 37 incidents in 2010 to 50 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people rose from 9.56 in 2010 to 14.21 in 2022. The city's proportion of state larceny thefts doubled from 0.07% in 2010 to 0.14% in 2022. This trend indicates a growing issue with petty theft, potentially reflecting economic challenges or changes in local dynamics.
Motor vehicle theft showed a decrease of 50% from 4 incidents in 2010 to 2 in 2022. However, the rate per 1,000 people remained relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 1.03 in 2010 to 0.57 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts fluctuated, peaking at 0.14% in 2013 before dropping to 0.04% in 2022. This suggests that while the absolute number of vehicle thefts has decreased, it remains a persistent, albeit minor, issue relative to the population.
Arson cases in the city have been sporadic, with no clear trend. The number of incidents ranged from 0 to 2 per year, with the city's share of state arsons varying widely from 0% to 0.82%. The rate per 1,000 people remained low, never exceeding 0.49. This erratic pattern makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about arson trends in the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between property crime rates and population density. As the population density decreased from 1,590 per square mile in 2010 to 1,446 in 2022, property crimes per 1,000 people increased. This could suggest that a less dense population may lead to reduced natural surveillance and increased opportunities for property crimes.
Applying predictive models based on historical data, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), property crime rates may continue to fluctuate but with a slight upward trend. The total number of property crimes could potentially reach 65-70 incidents annually, with larceny theft likely remaining the predominant type of property crime.
In summary, Columbus has experienced a complex evolution of property crime patterns over the past decade. While some categories like motor vehicle theft have decreased, others such as larceny theft have seen significant increases. The overall increase in property crimes, despite a declining population, suggests a need for targeted crime prevention strategies. The city's changing demographics and economic conditions may continue to influence these trends, highlighting the importance of adaptive law enforcement and community engagement approaches to address evolving property crime challenges.
