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Property Crime Trends in Hammonton, NJ: A Decade of Significant Reduction
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hammonton, a town in New Jersey, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade, set against a backdrop of minor population changes. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 59.1%, from 254 to 104 incidents. During this same period, the population increased slightly by 0.5%, from 14,654 to 14,732 residents.
Burglary trends in the city show a significant decline over time. In 2010, there were 72 burglaries, which dropped to 13 in 2022, representing an 81.9% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 4.91 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 0.88 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 0.42% in 2010, peaking at 0.65% in 2020, and settling at 0.27% in 2022. This substantial reduction in burglaries suggests improved security measures or law enforcement strategies in the community.
Larceny theft also showed a downward trend, though less pronounced than burglary. Incidents decreased from 175 in 2010 to 78 in 2022, a 55.4% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 11.94 to 5.29 over this period. The city's proportion of state larceny thefts decreased from 0.37% in 2010 to 0.22% in 2022, with some fluctuations in between. This consistent decrease in larceny theft rates indicates a general improvement in property security or community vigilance.
Motor vehicle theft trends were more variable. The number of incidents increased from 7 in 2010 to 13 in 2022, an 85.7% rise. However, when considering population changes, the rate per 1,000 residents only increased from 0.48 to 0.88. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts rose from 0.07% to 0.20% during this period. This increase, while significant in percentage terms, represents a relatively small absolute change in a city of this size.
Arson cases in Hammonton remained low throughout the period, with most years reporting either zero or one incident. The rate per 1,000 residents remained consistently below 0.1. The city's share of state arsons fluctuated considerably, from 0.22% in 2010 to 0.69% in 2022, but given the low absolute numbers, these percentages should be interpreted cautiously.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between property crime rates and median income. As median income increased from $75,406 in 2013 to $91,785 in 2021, overall property crime rates generally decreased. However, this trend was not consistent year-over-year, suggesting other factors also influence crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on historical trends, it's projected that by 2029, Hammonton may see a further reduction in overall property crime rates, potentially reaching around 80-90 incidents per year. Burglary rates are expected to stabilize at current low levels, while larceny theft may continue its gradual decline. Motor vehicle theft rates could potentially increase slightly if current trends persist, but are likely to remain relatively low compared to historical highs.
In summary, Hammonton has experienced a significant overall reduction in property crime rates over the past decade, particularly in burglary and larceny theft. This positive trend, coupled with modest population growth and increasing median incomes, suggests an improving quality of life for residents. However, the slight uptick in motor vehicle thefts warrants continued attention from local law enforcement and community leaders to ensure this doesn't develop into a more significant issue in the coming years.
