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Property Crime Trends in Platte Woods, Missouri: A Decade of Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Platte Woods in Missouri presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. From 2010 to 2019, the total number of property crimes fluctuated, peaking at 11 incidents in 2011 and 2013, before dropping to zero reported cases in 2019. This represents a 100% decrease over the period. Simultaneously, the population grew from 4,497 in 2010 to 4,817 in 2022, a 7.1% increase, creating a complex backdrop for crime analysis.
Burglary rates in the city showed significant volatility. In 2010, there were 2 burglaries, representing 0.01% of the state's total. The rate per 1,000 residents was 0.44. By 2017, burglaries doubled to 4, increasing to 0.02% of the state's total, with a rate of 0.94 per 1,000 residents. However, in 2019, burglaries dropped to zero. This fluctuation suggests inconsistent patterns in property security or reporting practices within the community.
Larceny-theft incidents also demonstrated variability. In 2010, there were 3 cases (0.67 per 1,000 residents), accounting for less than 0.01% of state totals. The highest number was recorded in 2011 with 10 incidents (2.13 per 1,000 residents), representing 0.01% of state totals. By 2019, larceny-theft cases had also dropped to zero. This trend might indicate improved community vigilance or changes in local economic conditions affecting petty theft.
Motor vehicle theft showed a slight upward trend before declining. In 2010, there were 2 cases (0.44 per 1,000 residents), accounting for 0.02% of state totals. The number peaked in 2013 and 2017 with 3 incidents each year (0.65 and 0.70 per 1,000 residents respectively), maintaining the 0.02% share of state totals. By 2019, motor vehicle thefts had also reduced to zero. This trend could reflect improvements in vehicle security systems or increased law enforcement focus on this crime type.
Arson cases remained consistently at zero throughout the recorded period, from 2010 to 2019. This stability in arson rates suggests effective fire prevention measures or possibly a lack of reporting for this specific crime category.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a modest inverse relationship between property crime rates and median income. As median income rose from $71,050 in 2013 to $85,521 in 2022, overall property crime incidents decreased. Similarly, the increase in homeownership from 68% in 2013 to 80% in 2022 coincided with the reduction in property crimes, potentially indicating that higher homeownership rates contribute to community stability and reduced crime.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we anticipate a continued low rate of property crimes, potentially averaging 1-3 incidents per year. This projection is based on the historical downward trend and assumes continued economic stability and community engagement.
In summary, Platte Woods has experienced a significant reduction in property crimes over the past decade, with all categories dropping to zero by 2019. This positive trend, coupled with increasing median income and homeownership rates, suggests a community that has become increasingly secure and stable. However, the small absolute numbers of crimes mean that even minor fluctuations can appear as significant percentage changes, necessitating ongoing vigilance and community-based crime prevention strategies to maintain these low crime rates into the future.
