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Property Crime Trends in Plainfield: A Decade of Improvement Amid Growth
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Plainfield, Illinois, a growing suburban community southwest of Chicago, experienced significant changes in property crime rates alongside substantial population growth from 2010 to 2022. Total property crimes decreased by 39%, from 510 in 2010 to 311 in 2022, while the population increased by 22% from 50,139 to 61,194 during the same period.
Burglary rates in the city showed a notable decline over the years. In 2010, there were 65 burglaries, which decreased to 34 in 2022, representing a 47.7% reduction. When considering population growth, the burglary rate per 1,000 people dropped from 1.30 in 2010 to 0.56 in 2022, a 57% decrease. The city's share of state burglaries increased from 0.12% in 2010 to 0.20% in 2022, suggesting a more significant statewide reduction in burglaries.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also saw a substantial decrease. In 2010, there were 436 larceny-theft cases, which dropped to 246 in 2022, a 43.6% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people declined from 8.70 in 2010 to 4.02 in 2022, a 53.8% decrease. The city's share of state larceny-theft cases slightly decreased from 0.26% to 0.24%, indicating a less pronounced decline compared to the state average.
Motor vehicle theft trends showed a different pattern. While there were only 9 cases in 2010, this number increased to 31 in 2022, a substantial 244% increase. The rate per 1,000 people rose from 0.18 in 2010 to 0.51 in 2022, a 183% increase. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts grew significantly from 0.04% to 0.11%, suggesting a local trend that diverged from the state average.
Arson cases in the city fluctuated but ultimately decreased. From 4 cases in 2010, the number dropped to 0 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people declined from 0.08 to 0, and the city's share of state arson cases fell from 0.38% to 0%.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals interesting patterns. As the median income increased from $117,022 in 2013 to $130,197 in 2022, overall property crime rates decreased, suggesting a potential negative correlation between income and property crime. Additionally, the slight increase in homeownership from 87% in 2016 to 90% in 2022 coincided with lower property crime rates, potentially indicating that higher ownership rates contribute to community stability and lower crime.
Racial demographics also showed some correlation with crime trends. As the white population percentage decreased from 75% in 2013 to 67% in 2022, and Asian and Black populations increased, overall property crime rates continued to decline, suggesting that increasing diversity did not negatively impact crime rates in the city.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, overall property crime rates may continue to decrease slightly, potentially reaching around 280-300 incidents per year. Burglary and larceny-theft are expected to maintain their downward trends, while motor vehicle theft might stabilize or show a slight increase if current patterns persist.
In summary, Plainfield has experienced a significant overall reduction in property crimes despite substantial population growth. The divergent trends in different types of property crimes, particularly the increase in motor vehicle thefts, warrant attention from local law enforcement. The positive correlations between rising incomes, homeownership rates, and decreasing crime rates suggest that continued economic growth and community stability may contribute to further reductions in property crime in the coming years.
