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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city known for its rich industrial history and cultural renaissance, has experienced significant changes in property crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2018, the total number of property crimes in the city decreased by 19.1%, from 11,284 to 9,125. This decline occurred despite a slight population decrease of 1.5% during the same period, from 305,759 to 301,038 residents.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial downward trend. In 2010, there were 2,949 burglaries, which decreased to 1,341 by 2018, representing a 54.5% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents fell from 9.64 in 2010 to 4.45 in 2018, a 53.8% decrease. Interestingly, while the number of burglaries decreased, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 11.51% in 2010, peaking at 13.11% in 2015, and then declining to 10.16% by 2018. This suggests that while the city improved its burglary situation, it remained a significant contributor to the state's overall burglary statistics.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also experienced a decline, albeit less dramatic than burglary. The number of larceny-thefts decreased from 7,678 in 2010 to 7,055 in 2018, an 8.1% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 25.11 to 23.44, a 6.7% decrease. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft statistics increased slightly from 9.89% in 2010 to 10.92% in 2018, indicating that the city's improvement in this category was not as pronounced as in other areas of the state.
Motor vehicle theft trends in the city present a more complex picture. While the number of motor vehicle thefts initially decreased from 657 in 2010 to 480 in 2011, it then rose to 729 by 2018, an overall increase of 11%. The rate per 1,000 residents followed a similar pattern, rising from 2.15 in 2010 to 2.42 in 2018, a 12.6% increase. Notably, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased significantly from 6.14% in 2010 to 8.61% in 2018, suggesting that this crime category became a growing concern for the city relative to the rest of the state.
Arson cases in the city showed considerable fluctuation. The number of arsons increased from 154 in 2010 to a peak of 248 in 2012, before declining to 102 in 2018, a 33.8% overall decrease. The arson rate per 1,000 residents followed a similar pattern, peaking at 0.81 in 2012 and ending at 0.34 in 2018, a 32.7% decrease from 2010. The city's contribution to state arson statistics was particularly high, starting at 25.45% in 2010, peaking at 41.27% in 2013, and then declining to 12.32% by 2018. This indicates that while arson remained a significant issue for the city, substantial progress was made in reducing its prevalence.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals interesting patterns. As the population density decreased slightly from 5,521 per square mile in 2010 to 5,436 in 2018, there was a corresponding decrease in overall property crime rates. Additionally, the rise in median income from $42,004 in 2013 to $47,417 in 2018 coincided with the continued decline in property crime rates, suggesting a possible inverse relationship between economic improvement and criminal activity.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (until 2029) suggests a continued overall decline in property crime rates. Burglary and larceny-theft are expected to decrease further, potentially by another 15-20%. However, motor vehicle theft may continue its upward trend, possibly increasing by 10-15%. Arson cases are projected to stabilize or decrease slightly. These predictions assume that current socioeconomic trends and law enforcement strategies remain consistent.
In summary, Pittsburgh has made significant strides in reducing property crime over the past decade, particularly in burglary and arson. The city's efforts have yielded positive results in most categories, aligning with improvements in economic indicators. However, the rise in motor vehicle thefts presents an ongoing challenge. As Pittsburgh continues to evolve, maintaining focus on crime prevention strategies, especially in areas showing increases, will be crucial for sustaining and improving public safety in the coming years.