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Property Crime Trends in Hueytown, Alabama: A Decade of Change and Challenges
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Hueytown, located in Alabama, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade, set against a backdrop of changing demographics and economic conditions. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 18.5%, from 674 to 549 incidents. During this same period, the population increased slightly by 0.76%, from 18,407 to 18,547 residents.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a significant downward trend over time. In 2010, there were 35 reported burglaries, which increased to 163 in 2011 but then steadily declined to 72 in 2018. By 2022, the number rose again to 122. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 1.90 in 2010 to 6.58 in 2022. Interestingly, while the number of burglaries decreased overall, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.15% in 2010 to 1.07% in 2022, indicating that the city's burglary rate declined less rapidly than the state average.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the area, also showed a general downward trend. In 2010, there were 615 larceny-theft incidents, which decreased to 374 by 2022, a 39.2% reduction. The larceny-theft rate per 1,000 residents fell from 33.41 in 2010 to 20.17 in 2022. Despite this decrease, the city's share of state larceny-theft incidents remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 0.53% and 0.84% over the years, suggesting that the decline in larceny-theft was somewhat in line with state trends.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed more volatility. From 24 incidents in 2010, it rose to 30 in 2014, dropped to 18 in 2016, and then increased significantly to 53 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 1.30 in 2010 to 2.86 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts also increased from 0.40% in 2010 to 0.79% in 2022, indicating that this type of crime became relatively more prevalent in the city compared to the state average.
Arson data for the city is limited, with only two years reporting incidents: 1 case in 2011 and 2 cases in 2022. This scarcity of data makes it difficult to draw meaningful conclusions about arson trends in the city.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the median income increased from $50,048 in 2013 to $57,481 in 2022, there was a general decrease in overall property crime rates, suggesting a potential inverse relationship between economic prosperity and property crime. Additionally, the shift in racial demographics, with the Black population increasing from 29% in 2013 to 42% in 2022 and the White population decreasing from 68% to 49%, coincided with fluctuations in crime rates, though a direct causal relationship cannot be established without further analysis.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a potential stabilization or slight increase in overall property crime rates. Burglary rates may continue to fluctuate but are likely to remain higher than the 2010 levels. Larceny-theft is projected to stabilize around the current lower rates, while motor vehicle theft might continue its upward trend unless intervention measures are implemented.
In conclusion, Hueytown has experienced a general decline in property crime rates over the past decade, particularly in larceny-theft, while facing challenges with increasing motor vehicle thefts. The city's changing demographics and economic conditions appear to have some correlation with these crime trends. As the community continues to evolve, ongoing monitoring and adaptive crime prevention strategies will be crucial in maintaining and improving public safety.
