Loading Content...
Property Crime Trends in Gower, Missouri: A Decade of Significant Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Gower, located in Missouri, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends. From 2010 to 2022, the city experienced fluctuations in its total property crime incidents, with the number varying from a low of 4 in 2022 to a high of 42 in 2017. Over this period, the population showed a slight decrease of 6.5%, from 2,678 in 2010 to 2,503 in 2022.
Burglary trends in the city have been variable. The highest number of burglaries recorded was 11 in 2017, representing 0.05% of the state's total burglaries that year. In contrast, 2022 saw no reported burglaries. When considering the population, the burglary rate peaked at 4.49 per 1,000 residents in 2017, a significant increase from 0.37 per 1,000 in 2010. This fluctuation suggests periods of heightened vulnerability to property intrusions, followed by improvements in security or prevention measures.
Larceny-theft has consistently been the most common property crime in the city. The number of incidents ranged from a high of 28 in 2017 to a low of 3 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents peaked at 11.43 in 2017, compared to 2.24 in 2010. The city's contribution to the state's larceny-theft incidents has remained relatively low, never exceeding 0.03% of the state total. This suggests that while larceny-theft is a persistent issue, its impact on state-wide statistics is minimal.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has been sporadic. The highest number of incidents was 3 in 2017, representing 0.02% of the state's total. Some years, including 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2016, reported no motor vehicle thefts. The rate per 1,000 residents never exceeded 1.22 (in 2017), indicating that this crime type is relatively uncommon in the city.
Arson incidents have been rare, with only one reported case in 2010, representing 0.1% of the state's total for that year. No other arson cases were reported in the available data, suggesting that this is not a significant ongoing concern for the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between property crime rates and population density. For instance, the peak in property crimes in 2017 (42 incidents) coincided with a period of increased population density (2,420 people per square mile). Additionally, there seems to be an inverse correlation between median income and property crime rates. The years with lower median incomes, such as 2017 ($56,076) and 2018 ($56,660), saw higher property crime incidents compared to years with higher median incomes.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we can anticipate a potential decrease in overall property crime incidents. This projection is based on the declining trend observed in recent years, particularly the significant drop to 4 incidents in 2022. However, it's important to note that small fluctuations may occur due to the city's relatively small population size, which can make crime statistics volatile from year to year.
In summary, Gower has experienced variable property crime rates over the past decade, with larceny-theft being the most prevalent issue. The relationship between economic factors, population density, and crime rates underscores the complex nature of property crime in small urban areas. While recent trends suggest a potential decrease in property crimes, ongoing vigilance and community-based prevention strategies will be crucial in maintaining and improving public safety in the coming years.
