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Property Crime Trends in Hollywood, Florida: A Decade of Significant Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hollywood, Florida, a vibrant coastal city in Broward County, has experienced significant changes in its property crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of property crimes in Hollywood decreased dramatically by 54.4%, from 7,265 to 3,316 incidents. This substantial reduction occurred against a backdrop of population growth, with the city's population increasing by 8.7% from 141,202 in 2010 to 153,470 in 2020.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a marked decline over the years. In 2010, there were 1,833 burglaries reported, which decreased to 420 incidents by 2020, representing a 77.1% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 13.0 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 2.7 per 1,000 in 2020. Interestingly, while the absolute number of burglaries decreased, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 2.02% in 2010, peaking at 2.36% in 2012, and settling at 1.45% by 2020. This trend suggests that while Hollywood has made significant strides in reducing burglaries, its progress has been somewhat in line with statewide improvements.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in the city, also saw a substantial decrease. In 2010, there were 4,797 larceny thefts reported, which dropped to 2,437 by 2020, a 49.2% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 34.0 in 2010 to 15.9 in 2020. The city's share of state larceny thefts remained relatively stable, ranging from 1.82% in 2010 to 1.37% in 2020, indicating that the city's improvements in this area were generally consistent with statewide trends.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed a more volatile trend but ultimately decreased. There were 635 incidents in 2010, which dropped to 459 by 2020, a 27.7% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 4.5 in 2010 to 3.0 in 2020. Notably, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts fluctuated significantly, from 2.67% in 2010 to a high of 3.06% in 2012, before settling at 2.01% in 2020. This suggests that while the city made progress, it faced particular challenges with motor vehicle theft compared to other property crimes.
Arson cases in the city remained relatively low but showed some fluctuation. From 8 incidents in 2010, the number peaked at 17 in 2012 before decreasing to 4 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 residents remained below 0.1 throughout the period. The city's share of state arson cases varied widely, from a low of 0.45% in 2014 to a high of 1.63% in 2012, indicating that arson trends in the city did not always align with statewide patterns.
A strong correlation emerged between the reduction in property crimes and the increase in median income. As the median income rose from $44,582 in 2013 to $58,162 in 2020, a 30.5% increase, property crimes decreased by 49.4% during the same period. This suggests that improved economic conditions may have contributed to the reduction in property crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends, it is estimated that by 2029, Hollywood could see a further reduction of approximately 25-30% in overall property crime rates if current trends continue. This projection is based on the consistent downward trend observed over the past decade and assumes continued economic growth and effective law enforcement strategies.
In summary, Hollywood, Florida has made remarkable progress in reducing property crime rates across all categories over the past decade, outpacing its population growth. The most significant improvements were seen in burglary and larceny theft rates, while motor vehicle theft and arson showed more variable trends. The strong correlation between rising median incomes and falling crime rates suggests that continued economic development could play a crucial role in sustaining these positive trends. As the city looks towards the future, maintaining this downward trajectory in property crimes will likely require ongoing community engagement, economic development initiatives, and adaptive law enforcement strategies.
