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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hancock, Maryland, a small community with a population of 2,403 as of 2022, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2019, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 55 to 6, representing an 89% reduction. During this same period, the population declined from 2,738 to 2,702, a modest 1.3% decrease.
Burglary trends in the city have shown a general decline over time. In 2010, there were 7 burglaries reported, which decreased to 0 by 2019. This represents a 100% reduction in burglary incidents. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 2.56 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 0 per 1,000 in 2019. The city's share of state burglaries also decreased from 0.06% in 2010 to 0% in 2019, indicating a significant improvement in this area of property crime relative to the rest of Maryland.
Larceny-theft incidents have also seen a substantial decrease. In 2010, there were 47 larceny-thefts reported, which dropped to 5 in 2019, representing an 89.4% reduction. The larceny-theft rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 17.17 in 2010 to 1.85 in 2019. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft incidents fell from 0.13% to 0.02% over this period, suggesting a significant improvement in this crime category compared to statewide trends.
Motor vehicle theft trends have been relatively stable but low. In 2010, there was 1 reported motor vehicle theft, and this number remained at 1 in 2019. However, due to the slight population decrease, the rate per 1,000 residents marginally increased from 0.37 in 2010 to 0.37 in 2019. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained very low, fluctuating between 0% and 0.05% over the years.
Arson incidents have been sporadic and infrequent. The data shows no arsons in most years, with only one incident reported in 2011, 2012, and 2017. This translates to a rate of 0.33, 0.33, and 0.37 per 1,000 residents in those respective years. The city's contribution to state arson incidents in these years was 0.22%, 0.28%, and 0.24%, respectively.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As median income increased from $53,504 in 2013 to $59,139 in 2022, property crime rates generally decreased. Additionally, there seems to be a slight correlation between population density and crime rates, with lower densities associated with fewer property crimes.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that property crime rates in Hancock will continue to remain low or potentially decrease further over the next five years (up to 2029). The total number of property crimes could stabilize around 5-10 incidents per year, assuming current socioeconomic conditions persist.
In conclusion, Hancock has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in its property crime situation over the past decade. The significant reductions in burglary and larceny-theft, coupled with consistently low rates of motor vehicle theft and arson, suggest effective crime prevention strategies and a strong community fabric. As the city moves forward, maintaining these positive trends will be crucial for the continued safety and well-being of its residents.