Loading Content...
Property Crime Trends in Hattiesburg: A Decade of Changes in Mississippi's Education Hub
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a city known for its vibrant university culture and historical significance, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes in Hattiesburg decreased by 9.4%, from 2,317 to 2,099 incidents. During this same period, the city's population grew by 6.7%, from 60,881 to 64,965 residents, indicating a complex relationship between population growth and crime rates.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a significant downward trend over time. In 2010, there were 434 burglaries reported, which decreased to 259 by 2022, representing a 40.3% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents fell from 7.13 in 2010 to 3.99 in 2022. However, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 2.51% in 2010 to 7.89% in 2022, suggesting that while local efforts may have reduced burglaries, the city's contribution to statewide burglary figures has grown relatively.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, showed a slight decrease over the period. In 2010, there were 1,809 larceny-theft incidents, which reduced to 1,673 by 2022, a 7.5% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents also decreased from 29.71 in 2010 to 25.75 in 2022. Notably, the city's share of state larceny-theft incidents increased substantially from 5.4% in 2010 to 11.82% in 2022, indicating that despite local improvements, the city's larceny-theft issues became more prominent within the state context.
Motor vehicle theft trends in the city show a concerning increase. The number of incidents rose from 74 in 2010 to 167 in 2022, a 125.7% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents more than doubled from 1.22 in 2010 to 2.57 in 2022. The city's contribution to state motor vehicle theft figures also increased dramatically from 2.28% to 9.83% over this period, suggesting a growing problem relative to other areas in Mississippi.
Arson cases in the city remained relatively low but showed some fluctuation. The number of arsons decreased from 6 in 2010 to 3 in 2022, a 50% reduction. However, the city's share of state arson cases increased from 2.01% to 4.29% during this period, indicating that while local numbers decreased, the city's arson issues became more significant relative to the state.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. There appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As the median income increased from $35,234 in 2013 to $43,825 in 2022, there was a general downward trend in overall property crime rates, suggesting that improved economic conditions may contribute to reduced property crime.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a potential continuation of the overall downward trend in total property crimes, albeit with some fluctuations. Burglary rates are expected to continue decreasing, while larceny-theft may stabilize or show slight decreases. However, motor vehicle theft could potentially continue its upward trend if current patterns persist.
In summary, Hattiesburg has made significant progress in reducing burglary rates and maintaining relatively stable larceny-theft figures over the past decade. However, the city faces challenges with increasing motor vehicle thefts and a growing share of state-level property crimes across various categories. The inverse relationship between rising median income and decreasing property crime rates suggests that continued economic development could play a crucial role in further crime reduction efforts. As the city moves forward, targeted strategies to address motor vehicle theft and maintain the positive trends in other property crime categories will be essential for enhancing public safety and maintaining Hattiesburg's quality of life.
