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Property Crime Trends in Perryville: A Decade of Declining Rates
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Perryville, located in Maryland, has experienced fluctuating property crime rates alongside population changes over the past decade. From 2010 to 2019, the total number of property crimes decreased by 36%, from 125 to 80 incidents. During this same period, the population saw a modest increase of 4.4%, growing from 7,130 to 7,447 residents.
Burglary trends in the city have shown a general decline over the years. In 2010, there were 18 burglaries reported, which decreased to 12 by 2019, representing a 33.3% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 2.52 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 1.61 per 1,000 in 2019. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated but remained relatively low, increasing slightly from 0.14% in 2010 to 0.16% in 2019. This downward trend in burglaries suggests improved security measures or community policing efforts may have been effective.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also showed a decreasing trend. The number of incidents dropped from 100 in 2010 to 66 in 2019, a 34% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 14.03 in 2010 to 8.86 in 2019. Despite this decline, the city's contribution to state larceny-theft cases decreased only slightly from 0.28% to 0.21% over the same period, indicating that the reduction was somewhat in line with state-wide trends.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has been relatively low and variable. In 2010, there were 7 reported cases, which decreased to 2 in 2019, a 71.4% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 0.98 in 2010 to 0.27 in 2019. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased from 0.11% to 0.04% during this period, suggesting a more significant improvement compared to state averages.
Arson cases in the city have been sporadic and low in number. There were 4 cases reported in 2010, but no cases were reported in several years including 2019. The highest percentage of state arson cases was 0.96% in 2017, with 4 reported incidents. The inconsistent nature of arson cases makes it difficult to establish a clear trend, but the overall low numbers suggest it is not a persistent problem in the city.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the percentage of owner-occupied housing increased from 62% in 2013 to 70% in 2019, property crimes decreased, suggesting a possible link between home ownership and reduced property crime rates. Additionally, the rise in median income from $67,400 in 2013 to $75,180 in 2019 coincided with the decline in property crimes, potentially indicating that improved economic conditions may contribute to lower crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continued gradual decrease in overall property crime rates. Based on historical data and current trends, it's projected that by 2029, the city could see total property crimes reduce to around 60-70 incidents per year, assuming consistent population growth and socioeconomic factors.
In summary, Perryville has shown positive trends in property crime reduction across most categories over the past decade. The most significant improvements have been in motor vehicle theft and burglary rates. These trends, coupled with increasing home ownership and rising median incomes, paint a picture of a community that is becoming safer and more stable. While challenges remain, particularly in addressing larceny-theft, the overall trajectory suggests that Perryville is making strides in enhancing public safety and quality of life for its residents.
