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Property Crime Trends in Pinellas Park: A Decade of Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Pinellas Park, a city in Florida known for its diverse community and strategic location in Pinellas County, has experienced notable changes in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 2,820 to 1,650, representing a 41.5% reduction. During the same period, the city's population grew from 54,972 to 58,442, an increase of 6.3%.
Burglary incidents in the city have shown a substantial decline over time. In 2010, there were 471 burglaries, which dropped to 170 in 2022, marking a 63.9% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 8.57 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 2.91 per 1,000 in 2022. Interestingly, despite this decline, the city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.52% in 2010 to 1.68% in 2022, suggesting a more pronounced reduction in burglaries at the state level compared to the local trend.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the area, also experienced a significant decrease. The number of incidents fell from 2,207 in 2010 to 1,350 in 2022, a 38.8% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 40.15 in 2010 to 23.10 in 2022. Similar to burglary, the city's proportion of state larceny-theft incidents increased from 0.84% to 1.9% over the same period, indicating a more substantial decrease in larceny-theft at the state level.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed fluctuations but ultimately decreased from 142 incidents in 2010 to 130 in 2022, an 8.5% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents slightly decreased from 2.58 in 2010 to 2.22 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased from 0.6% to 1.81% during this period, suggesting a more significant decline in these crimes at the state level compared to the local trend.
Arson cases in the city have shown variability over the years. In 2010, there were 10 reported cases, which decreased to 7 in 2022, a 30% reduction. The arson rate per 1,000 residents slightly decreased from 0.18 in 2010 to 0.12 in 2022. The city's proportion of state arson cases increased from 0.85% to 2.93% during this period, indicating a more substantial decrease in arson incidents at the state level.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the median income increased from $50,304 in 2013 to $55,080 in 2022, there was a corresponding decrease in property crimes. This suggests a potential link between improved economic conditions and reduced property crime rates. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing units remained relatively stable, hovering around 70% throughout the period, which may have contributed to the overall decrease in property crimes, particularly burglaries.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continuation of the overall downward trend. Based on the historical data and current trajectories, it's projected that total property crimes could decrease by an additional 15-20% by 2029. Burglaries and larceny-theft are expected to see the most significant reductions, while motor vehicle theft and arson rates may stabilize or show modest decreases.
In summary, Pinellas Park has demonstrated a commendable improvement in property crime rates over the past decade, outpacing state-level reductions in several categories. The city's ability to maintain this positive trend while experiencing population growth is particularly noteworthy. These improvements, coupled with rising median incomes and stable homeownership rates, suggest a positive trajectory for community safety and quality of life in the coming years.
