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Property Crime Trends in Joplin, Missouri: A Decade of Resilience and Fluctuation
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Joplin, Missouri, a city known for its resilience in the face of natural disasters, has experienced significant fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes in Joplin decreased by 6.8%, from 3,404 to 3,172. During this same period, the city's population grew by 2.4%, from 61,539 to 63,014 residents, indicating a slight improvement in overall property crime rates relative to population growth.
Burglary trends in the city have shown a notable decline over the years. In 2010, there were 558 reported burglaries, which decreased to 495 in 2022, representing an 11.3% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents fell from 9.07 in 2010 to 7.85 in 2022. Interestingly, despite this decrease in absolute numbers, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 1.73% in 2010 to 3.73% in 2022, suggesting that burglary rates may have declined more rapidly in other parts of Missouri.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, showed a slight decrease over the 12-year period. In 2010, there were 2,612 reported cases, which reduced to 2,323 in 2022, a 11.1% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 42.44 in 2010 to 36.86 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures increased from 2.3% to 2.99% during this period, indicating that the city's improvement in this category was less pronounced compared to the state average.
Motor vehicle theft trends present a concerning picture. The number of reported cases increased from 234 in 2010 to 354 in 2022, a substantial 51.3% rise. The rate per 1,000 residents grew from 3.80 to 5.62 during this period. Despite this increase, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased slightly from 1.77% to 1.46%, suggesting that this crime category may have grown even more rapidly in other parts of the state.
Arson cases in the city have fluctuated over the years but show an overall increase. In 2010, there were 29 reported cases, which rose to 36 in 2022, a 24.1% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 0.47 to 0.57. Notably, the city's contribution to state arson figures rose significantly from 2.79% to 5.86%, indicating that arson has become a more prominent issue in Joplin relative to the rest of Missouri.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. There appears to be a moderate negative correlation between median income and property crime rates. As the median income increased from $44,499 in 2013 to $52,315 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 continuation of current patterns. Burglary and larceny-theft are projected to continue their gradual decline, while motor vehicle theft may continue to rise if current trends persist. Arson cases are expected to remain relatively stable but at a higher level compared to the early 2010s.
In summary, Joplin has made progress in reducing certain types of property crimes, particularly burglary and larceny-theft, over the past decade. However, the city faces ongoing challenges with motor vehicle theft and arson, which have seen increases both in absolute numbers and relative to population growth. The correlation between rising median incomes and declining overall property crime rates suggests that continued economic development could play a role in further reducing property crime in Joplin. As the city moves forward, targeted strategies to address motor vehicle theft and arson, while maintaining the positive trends in other categories, will be crucial for improving overall public safety and quality of life for its residents.
