Loading Content...
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hartselle, Alabama, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends over the past decade. With a population of 20,626 in 2022, this small city has experienced notable changes in its crime landscape. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 560 to 161, representing a 71.25% reduction. This substantial drop in property crime occurred alongside a population growth of 10.28% during the same period, from 18,704 in 2010 to 20,626 in 2022.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a marked decline over the years. In 2010, there were 80 burglaries reported, which decreased to 20 in 2022, a 75% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 4.28 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 0.97 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 0.34% in 2010, dropping to 0.13% in 2014, and then rising slightly to 0.18% by 2022. This trend suggests that while burglaries have decreased overall, the city's improvement relative to the state has been somewhat inconsistent.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the area, also experienced a significant downward trend. The number of incidents decreased from 457 in 2010 to 123 in 2022, a 73.08% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 24.43 in 2010 to 5.96 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures decreased from 0.62% in 2010 to 0.26% in 2022, indicating that the local reduction outpaced the state average. This substantial improvement in larceny-theft rates suggests enhanced community vigilance or effective law enforcement strategies.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed a less dramatic but still positive trend. The number of incidents decreased from 23 in 2010 to 18 in 2022, a 21.74% reduction. When adjusted for population, the rate dropped from 1.23 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 0.87 in 2022. Interestingly, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased from 0.39% in 2010 to 0.27% in 2022, despite some fluctuations in between. This suggests that while progress has been made, motor vehicle theft remains a persistent issue relative to other property crimes in the area.
Arson data for the city is limited, with only one reported case in 2022, representing 0.19% of state arson incidents. The lack of historical data makes it challenging to discern any meaningful trends for this specific crime category.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The significant reduction in property crimes coincided with a period of increasing population density, which rose from 1,123 people per square mile in 2010 to 1,238 in 2022. This suggests that increased urbanization did not lead to higher crime rates in this case. Additionally, the median income in the city increased from $61,094 in 2013 to $60,203 in 2022, with some fluctuations in between. The relatively stable economic conditions may have contributed to the overall reduction in property crimes.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that property crime rates in Hartselle will continue to decrease over the next five years (up to 2029). If current trends persist, we might expect to see total property crimes fall below 100 incidents per year, with burglaries potentially dropping to single digits annually. Larceny-theft is likely to remain the most common property crime but could decrease to around 75-80 incidents per year. Motor vehicle theft might stabilize at around 10-15 cases annually.
In summary, Hartselle has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in its property crime situation over the past decade. The substantial reductions in burglary and larceny-theft rates, coupled with moderate improvements in motor vehicle theft, paint a picture of a community that has effectively addressed property crime issues. These positive trends, occurring alongside population growth and stable economic conditions, suggest that the city has implemented successful strategies to enhance public safety and reduce criminal activities. As Hartselle continues to grow and evolve, maintaining these positive trends will be crucial for the ongoing safety and well-being of its residents.