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Property Crime Trends in Sandusky: Lake Erie City's Decade of Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Sandusky, Ohio, a city renowned for its amusement parks and Lake Erie waterfront, has witnessed substantial changes in property crime patterns over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, total property crimes in Sandusky decreased by 65.2%, from 1,273 to 443 incidents. This remarkable reduction occurred alongside a population decline of 5.6%, with the city's residents decreasing from 29,650 in 2010 to 27,981 in 2022.
Burglary rates in Sandusky have shown a significant downward trend. In 2010, there were 310 burglaries, which declined to 71 in 2022, representing a 77.1% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 10.5 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 2.5 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, peaking at 0.61% in 2013 before dropping to 0.33% in 2022, indicating that Sandusky's improvement was part of a broader statewide trend.
Larceny-theft, the most prevalent property crime in Sandusky, also experienced a considerable decline. In 2010, there were 960 larceny-thefts, which dropped to 339 in 2022, a 64.7% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 32.4 in 2010 to 12.1 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures decreased from 0.63% in 2010 to 0.33% in 2022, suggesting that Sandusky's improvement in this category outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft trends in Sandusky showed more volatility. From 3 incidents in 2010, the number rose to a peak of 40 in 2018 and 2019, before decreasing to 33 in 2022. This represents a 1,000% increase over the period, though the absolute numbers remain relatively low. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 0.1 in 2010 to 1.2 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts rose from 0.02% in 2010 to 0.15% in 2022, indicating that this crime category became relatively more prevalent in Sandusky compared to the state average.
Arson cases in Sandusky remained low throughout the period, fluctuating between 1 and 6 incidents per year. The rate per 1,000 residents stayed below 0.2 throughout the period. However, the city's contribution to state arson figures increased from 0.11% in 2010 to 0.23% in 2022, suggesting that arson became relatively more concentrated in Sandusky compared to the state average, despite the low absolute numbers.
The decrease in property crimes coincided with a slight increase in median income, which rose from $42,157 in 2013 to $46,608 in 2022. This suggests that improving economic conditions may have contributed to the reduction in property crimes. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 53% and 56% during the period, which may have provided a stabilizing influence on crime rates.
Predictive models forecasting property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggest a continuation of the overall downward trend, albeit at a slower rate. Burglaries are projected to stabilize around 60-70 incidents per year, while larceny-theft is expected to level off at approximately 300-320 cases annually. Motor vehicle thefts may continue to fluctuate but are likely to remain below 40 incidents per year. Arson cases are predicted to remain low, with 1-3 incidents annually.
In conclusion, Sandusky has made significant progress in reducing property crime over the past decade, particularly in burglary and larceny-theft categories. This improvement, set against a backdrop of slight population decline and modest economic growth, suggests effective crime prevention strategies and community engagement. While challenges remain, particularly in addressing motor vehicle theft, the overall trend points to a safer Sandusky for its residents and visitors alike.
