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Property Crime Trends in Kitty Hawk: Birthplace of Flight Sees 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
Kitty Hawk, located in North Carolina, has experienced notable changes in property crime rates and population growth over the past decade. From 2010 to 2021, the total number of property crimes fluctuated, with a peak of 184 incidents in 2017 and a low of 69 in 2021, representing a 46.1% decrease over this period. Concurrently, the population grew from 3,449 in 2010 to 3,903 in 2022, an increase of 13.2%.
Burglary trends in the city show a significant decline over time. In 2010, there were 69 burglaries, which decreased to just 6 in 2021, marking a 91.3% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 20.0 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 1.5 per 1,000 in 2021. The city's share of state burglaries also decreased from 0.13% in 2010 to 0.02% in 2021. This substantial decrease in burglaries suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies in the area.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in the city, showed more variability. The number of incidents ranged from a high of 146 in 2017 to a low of 57 in 2010. In 2021, there were 61 larceny thefts, representing a 7% increase from 2010. The larceny rate per 1,000 people decreased slightly from 16.5 in 2010 to 15.7 in 2021. The city's contribution to state larceny thefts increased from 0.04% in 2010 to 0.05% in 2021, indicating a relatively stable trend compared to state levels.
Motor vehicle theft in the city remained relatively low throughout the period. The number of incidents ranged from 0 to 5, with 2 reported in 2021. The rate per 1,000 people was 0.58 in 2010 and 0.51 in 2021, showing a slight decrease. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts fluctuated, reaching a high of 0.05% in 2016 and settling at 0.02% in 2021. These low numbers suggest that motor vehicle theft is not a significant concern for the community.
Arson cases were rare in the city, with only three reported incidents over the entire period (2 in 2011 and 1 in 2016). The rate per 1,000 people and the percentage of state arsons were negligible, indicating that arson is not a prevalent issue in the area.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As median income increased from $57,814 in 2013 to $72,017 in 2022, overall property crime rates tended to decrease. Additionally, the rise in home ownership rates from 70% in 2013 to 77% in 2022 coincided with the general decline in property crimes, suggesting a possible link between community stability and reduced crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we anticipate a continued gradual decline in overall property crime rates. Burglaries are expected to remain low, potentially averaging around 5-8 incidents annually. Larceny theft may stabilize around 70-80 cases per year, while motor vehicle thefts are likely to remain in the single digits. Arson cases are predicted to remain rare, with possibly one or two incidents over the five-year period.
In summary, Kitty Hawk has seen a notable improvement in its property crime situation over the past decade, particularly in the reduction of burglaries. The community's rising affluence and homeownership rates appear to correlate with these positive trends. As the city continues to grow and develop, maintaining these low crime rates will be crucial for sustaining the quality of life for its residents.
