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Property Crime Trends in Killen, Alabama: A Decade of Significant Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Killen, Alabama, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the city experienced a significant decrease in total property crimes, dropping from 48 incidents in 2010 to 16 in 2022, representing a 66.7% reduction. This decline in crime occurred alongside a population growth from 8,266 in 2010 to 9,361 in 2022, a 13.2% increase.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a notable decline over the years. In 2010, there were 3 burglaries reported, which remained consistent at 3 incidents in 2022. However, when considering the population growth, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents actually decreased from 0.36 in 2010 to 0.32 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, rising from 0.01% in 2010 to 0.03% in 2022. This suggests that while the absolute number of burglaries remained stable, the city's relative contribution to state burglary statistics increased slightly, possibly due to more significant decreases in other areas of Alabama.
Larceny-theft incidents saw a substantial decrease over the observed period. In 2010, there were 43 larceny-theft cases reported, which dropped to 11 in 2022, marking a 74.4% reduction. The larceny-theft rate per 1,000 residents fell from 5.20 in 2010 to 1.18 in 2022. Interestingly, the city's contribution to state larceny-theft statistics decreased from 0.06% in 2010 to 0.02% in 2022, indicating that the reduction in larceny-theft in Killen outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft remained relatively stable, with 2 incidents reported in both 2010 and 2022. However, due to population growth, the rate per 1,000 residents decreased slightly from 0.24 in 2010 to 0.21 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained constant at 0.03% throughout this period, suggesting that the trend in this category aligned with state-level patterns.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The significant decrease in property crimes, particularly larceny-theft, coincided with a substantial increase in median income. The median income rose from $58,819 in 2013 to $79,498 in 2022, representing a 35.2% increase. This correlation suggests that improved economic conditions may have contributed to the reduction in property crimes.
Additionally, there's a notable correlation between the decrease in property crimes and the increase in home ownership rates. The percentage of owner-occupied housing units increased from 79% in 2013 to 84% in 2022. This rise in home ownership could indicate greater community stability and investment, which often correlates with lower crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's reasonable to forecast that property crime rates in Killen will continue to decrease over the next five years (until 2029). The total number of property crimes could potentially drop to around 10-12 incidents per year, with larceny-theft likely remaining the most common type of property crime but at significantly reduced levels compared to a decade ago.
In summary, Killen has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in its property crime statistics over the past decade. The significant reduction in larceny-theft, coupled with stable or declining rates in other categories, paints a picture of a community that has become safer and more secure. The correlation between rising income levels, increased home ownership, and declining crime rates suggests that economic growth and community stability have played crucial roles in this positive trend. As the city continues to grow and prosper, it appears well-positioned to maintain or even improve upon these encouraging crime statistics in the coming years.
