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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Princeton, Illinois, a small urban center with a population of 9,095 as of 2022, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2012 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased from 176 to 100, representing a 43.2% reduction. This significant decline occurred against a backdrop of slight population decrease, with the city's population falling by 1.9% from 9,269 in 2012 to 9,095 in 2022.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial decline over the years. In 2012, there were 31 burglaries reported, which decreased to just 2 in 2022, marking a 93.5% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 3.34 per 1,000 residents in 2012 to 0.22 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries also decreased from 0.06% in 2012 to 0.01% in 2022. This dramatic reduction suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies targeting burglaries.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, has also seen a decrease, though less pronounced than burglary. The number of larceny-thefts dropped from 144 in 2012 to 93 in 2022, a 35.4% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 15.54 in 2012 to 10.23 in 2022. Interestingly, despite this local decrease, the city's share of state larceny-thefts increased slightly from 0.08% to 0.09% over the same period, indicating that the reduction in larceny-theft may have been less significant compared to state-wide trends.
Motor vehicle theft trends have been more variable. The city reported only 1 case in 2012, which increased to 5 in 2022. This change represents a 400% increase, though the small numbers make percentage changes less meaningful. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 0.11 in 2012 to 0.55 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts also rose from 0.00% to 0.02%, suggesting a localized increase in this crime type relative to state trends.
Arson cases in Princeton have been sporadic and low in number. In 2012, no arsons were reported, while in 2022, there was 1 case. The rate per 1,000 residents in 2022 was 0.11. The city's share of state arsons increased from 0.00% in 2012 to 0.15% in 2022, indicating that while arson remains rare, its occurrence has become more significant relative to state figures.
Examining correlations between crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The decrease in overall property crime rates coincides with a slight increase in the percentage of owner-occupied housing, which rose from 71% in 2013 to 74% in 2022. This could suggest that higher rates of home ownership may contribute to reduced property crime. Additionally, the median income in the city increased from $49,823 in 2013 to $52,366 in 2022, potentially indicating improved economic conditions that might correlate with reduced property crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continuation of the overall downward trend in property crimes. Based on the historical data, we can project that total property crimes may further decrease to around 80-90 incidents per year by 2029. Burglaries are likely to remain low, possibly stabilizing at 1-3 cases annually. Larceny-theft is expected to continue its gradual decline, potentially reaching around 70-80 cases per year. Motor vehicle theft might stabilize or slightly decrease to 3-4 cases annually, while arson cases are projected to remain rare, with 0-1 incidents per year.
In conclusion, Princeton has demonstrated a generally positive trend in property crime reduction over the past decade. The significant decrease in burglaries and larceny-thefts, coupled with stable or slightly increasing rates of home ownership and median income, paints a picture of a community that has made strides in enhancing public safety. While motor vehicle theft has seen a slight increase, the overall property crime landscape in Princeton appears to be improving, with projections suggesting this trend may continue in the coming years.