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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Eldorado, located in Illinois, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends over the past decade. From 2012 to 2022, the city experienced a significant decrease in total property crimes, dropping from 177 incidents in 2012 to 0 reported cases in 2022, representing a 100% reduction. This dramatic change occurred against a backdrop of population decline, with the city's population decreasing from 5,604 in 2012 to 5,083 in 2022, a 9.3% reduction.
Burglary rates in the city showed notable fluctuations over time. In 2012, there were 40 burglary incidents, which decreased to 32 by 2018, representing a 20% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 7.14 in 2012 to 6.01 in 2018. Interestingly, while the number of burglaries decreased, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.08% in 2012 to 0.15% in 2019, suggesting that burglary rates may have declined more slowly in Eldorado compared to the rest of Illinois.
Larceny-theft incidents also showed a downward trend. In 2012, there were 123 larceny-theft cases, which decreased to 61 by 2019, a 50.4% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 21.95 in 2012 to 11.49 in 2019. The city's proportion of state larceny-theft cases decreased from 0.07% in 2012 to 0.04% in 2019, indicating that the reduction in larceny-theft in the city outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft in the city fluctuated but generally trended downward. From 14 incidents in 2012, it decreased to 6 in 2019, a 57.1% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 2.50 in 2012 to 1.13 in 2019. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained relatively stable, ranging between 0.03% and 0.09% during this period.
Arson cases were rare in the city, with only one reported incident in 2019, representing 0.1% of the state's arson cases for that year. The lack of consistent arson data makes it difficult to establish a clear trend for this crime category.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the median income increased from $30,563 in 2013 to $46,585 in 2022, property crime rates generally decreased. This suggests a potential inverse relationship between economic prosperity and property crime rates. The percentage of owner-occupied housing remained relatively stable, ranging from 70% to 76% during this period, which may have contributed to community stability and lower crime rates.
The racial composition of the city remained predominantly white throughout the period, with the white population consistently above 90%. The slight increase in diversity, with the Hispanic population growing from 0% in 2013 to 2% in 2022, did not appear to have a significant impact on property crime trends.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continuation of the downward trend. Based on the historical data and current socio-economic factors, it's projected that property crime rates will remain very low or potentially reach zero consistently if current conditions persist. However, it's important to note that the dramatic drop to zero reported cases in 2022 may be an anomaly, and some fluctuation in low numbers of property crimes could occur in the coming years.
In summary, Eldorado has experienced a remarkable reduction in property crime over the past decade, with all categories of property crime showing significant decreases. This positive trend coincides with rising median incomes and stable community demographics. While the city has faced population decline, the improvement in property crime rates suggests effective law enforcement strategies and community engagement. As Eldorado moves forward, maintaining these low crime rates will be crucial for the city's overall quality of life and economic development prospects.