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Property Crime Trends in Leighton, Alabama: A Decade of Fluctuations
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Leighton, Alabama, a small town with a population of 1,046 in 2022, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes increased from 7 to 9, representing a 28.57% increase. During this same period, the population decreased from 1,154 to 1,046, a 9.36% reduction.
Burglary trends in the city have shown significant variations. In 2010, there were 4 burglaries, which peaked at 18 in 2014 before declining to 3 in 2022. This represents a 25% decrease from 2010 to 2022. When considering population, the burglary rate per 1,000 people increased from 3.47 in 2010 to 2.87 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, rising from 0.02% in 2010 to a high of 2.63% in 2020, before settling at 0.03% in 2022. These trends suggest improved security measures or changes in local law enforcement strategies over time.
Larceny theft incidents have shown a more stable trend. Starting at 3 cases in 2010, they increased to 20 in 2015 and 2021, before dropping to 4 in 2022. This represents a 33.33% increase from 2010 to 2022. The larceny theft rate per 1,000 people rose from 2.60 in 2010 to 3.82 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny thefts remained relatively low, ranging from 0.01% to 0.06% over the years. This suggests that while larceny theft has increased slightly, it remains a minor concern relative to state-wide figures.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has seen a significant increase. From zero incidents in 2010 and 2011, it rose to 5 cases in 2018, 2020, and 2021, before slightly decreasing to 2 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people increased from 0 in 2010 to 1.91 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts grew from 0% in 2010 to 0.03% in 2022, with a peak of 2.56% in 2020. This trend indicates a growing concern for vehicle security in the area.
Arson data for Leighton is largely unavailable, with only two years (2021 and 2022) reporting zero incidents. This lack of data makes it challenging to draw meaningful conclusions about arson trends in the city.
A notable correlation exists between property crime rates and median income. As median income increased from $26,813 in 2013 to $41,205 in 2022, property crime rates showed an overall downward trend, decreasing from 27 incidents in 2013 to 9 in 2022. This suggests that improving economic conditions may have contributed to reduced property crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (until 2029), we anticipate a continued gradual decrease in overall property crime rates. Burglary and larceny theft are expected to stabilize at lower levels, while motor vehicle theft may continue to fluctuate but remain a concern.
In summary, Leighton has experienced a complex evolution of property crime patterns over the past decade. While burglary rates have decreased, larceny theft has shown a slight increase, and motor vehicle theft has emerged as a growing concern. The correlation between rising median income and declining overall property crime rates suggests that economic improvements may play a role in enhancing community safety. As the city moves forward, continued focus on economic development and targeted security measures, particularly for vehicle protection, could help maintain and improve upon the generally positive trends in property crime reduction.
