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Property Crime Trends in Hazleton: A Decade of Decline Amid Population Growth
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hazleton in Pennsylvania presents an intriguing case study of property crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2018, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 509 to 229, representing a 55% reduction. This decline occurred against a backdrop of population growth, with the city's population increasing from 24,864 in 2010 to 29,671 in 2022, a 19.3% increase.
The burglary rate in the city has shown a notable downward trend. In 2010, there were 130 burglaries, which decreased to 72 in 2018, a 44.6% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 5.23 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 2.90 per 1,000 in 2018. Interestingly, despite this decrease in absolute numbers, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.51% in 2010 to 0.55% in 2018. This suggests that while burglaries decreased in the city, they may have decreased at a faster rate in other parts of the state.
Larceny-theft incidents also saw a significant decline. In 2010, there were 325 reported cases, which dropped to 121 in 2018, a 62.8% decrease. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 13.07 in 2010 to 4.88 in 2018. The city's share of state larceny-theft incidents decreased from 0.42% to 0.19% during this period, indicating that the city outperformed the state average in reducing this type of crime.
Motor vehicle theft showed a less dramatic but still positive trend. From 54 incidents in 2010, it decreased to 36 in 2018, a 33.3% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 2.17 to 1.45. However, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained relatively stable, moving from 0.50% to 0.43%, suggesting that the reduction in this crime was roughly in line with state trends.
Arson cases fluctuated over the years but showed an overall increase. From no reported cases in 2010, there were 6 cases in 2018. The rate per 1,000 people went from 0 to 0.24. The city's share of state arson cases increased from 0% to 0.72%, indicating a disproportionate increase compared to state trends.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong inverse relationship between property crime rates and the Hispanic population percentage, which increased from 43% in 2013 to 62% in 2022. During this period, overall property crime rates declined. Additionally, there's a notable correlation between decreasing property crime rates and increasing median income, which rose from $34,072 in 2013 to $41,681 in 2022.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we can anticipate a continued overall decline in property crimes, with potential fluctuations in arson cases. The burglary rate is expected to stabilize around 2.5 per 1,000 people, while larceny-theft may further decrease to approximately 4 per 1,000 people. Motor vehicle theft is projected to remain relatively stable at around 1.4 per 1,000 people.
In summary, Hazleton has experienced a significant reduction in most property crime categories over the past decade, despite population growth. This trend, coupled with increasing diversity and rising median incomes, suggests a positive trajectory for the city's safety and economic development. However, the increase in arson cases warrants attention and targeted prevention strategies. The city's performance in reducing larceny-theft relative to state trends is particularly noteworthy and could offer valuable insights for other municipalities seeking to address similar challenges.
