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Property Crime Trends in La Center, Kentucky: A Small City's Journey to Safety
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
La Center, Kentucky, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. With a population of 960 in 2022 and covering just 0.61 square miles, this small city has experienced fluctuations in both its population and crime rates over the years. The total number of property crimes has varied significantly, from a peak of 8 incidents in 2014 to zero reported cases in several years, including 2021 and 2022.
Burglary trends in the city show notable variations. In 2014, there were 2 burglaries reported, which equated to 1.56 incidents per 1,000 residents. This number decreased to zero by 2021 and 2022, indicating a 100% reduction. The city's contribution to state burglary statistics peaked at 0.02% in 2020, with 1 reported case. This fluctuation suggests that while burglary has been a concern at times, it has not been a persistent issue in recent years.
Larceny-theft in the city has shown a similar pattern of fluctuation. The highest number of larceny-theft incidents was recorded in 2012 and 2014, with 4 cases each year. This translates to 2.87 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2014. By 2021 and 2022, larceny-theft cases had dropped to zero, marking a 100% decrease. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft statistics has been minimal, never exceeding 0.01% during the reported years.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has been rare, with only one notable occurrence in 2014 when 2 cases were reported. This equated to 1.56 incidents per 1,000 residents and represented 0.04% of the state's motor vehicle thefts that year. Since then, no motor vehicle thefts have been reported, indicating a 100% decrease and suggesting that this type of crime is not a significant ongoing concern for the community.
Arson incidents have been extremely rare in the city. Only one case was reported in 2014, representing 0.66% of the state's arson cases that year. This single incident equated to 0.78 cases per 1,000 residents. Since then, no arson cases have been reported, indicating a 100% decrease and suggesting that arson is not a persistent issue in the community.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and other factors reveals some interesting patterns. The city's population has been declining since 2013, from 1,459 to 960 in 2022, a decrease of about 34%. During this same period, the median income increased from $31,288 in 2013 to $36,304 in 2022, an increase of about 16%. Interestingly, as the population decreased and income increased, property crime rates also generally declined, suggesting a possible correlation between these factors.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests that the city is likely to maintain its low crime rates. Given the consistent zero or near-zero property crime rates in recent years, coupled with the declining population and increasing median income, it's reasonable to predict that La Center will continue to experience very low levels of property crime, barring any significant changes in socioeconomic conditions or external factors.
In conclusion, La Center has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in its property crime situation over the past decade. From sporadic incidents in the early 2010s to consistent zero or near-zero reports in recent years, the city has effectively mitigated property crime issues. This positive trend, coupled with demographic changes such as a decreasing population and rising median income, paints a picture of a small community that has successfully addressed property crime concerns, potentially serving as a model for similar-sized municipalities in Kentucky and beyond.
