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Property Crime Trends in Ventnor City: A Coastal Community's Shifting Landscape
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Ventnor City, New Jersey, a coastal community known for its boardwalk and proximity to Atlantic City, has experienced significant changes in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 27.8%, from 367 to 265 incidents. This reduction occurred alongside a population decline of 16.7%, from 11,150 residents in 2010 to 9,285 in 2022.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial decrease over time. In 2010, there were 119 burglaries reported, which dropped to just 22 cases in 2022, representing an 81.5% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 10.67 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 2.37 per 1,000 in 2022. Interestingly, while the number of burglaries decreased, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated. It peaked at 1.16% of state burglaries in 2015 before declining to 0.46% in 2022. This trend suggests that while the city has made significant progress in reducing burglaries, the reduction may be part of a broader state-wide trend.
Larceny-theft incidents have also decreased, though less dramatically than burglaries. In 2010, there were 245 larceny-theft cases, which decreased to 238 in 2022, a 2.9% reduction. However, when accounting for population changes, the rate of larceny-theft actually increased slightly from 21.97 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 25.63 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft incidents increased from 0.52% in 2010 to 0.66% in 2022, indicating that this type of crime has become relatively more prevalent in the city compared to the state average.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has shown some fluctuation but an overall increase. In 2010, there were 3 reported cases, which increased to 5 in 2022, a 66.7% increase. The rate per 1,000 residents rose from 0.27 in 2010 to 0.54 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased from 0.03% in 2010 to 0.08% in 2022, suggesting that this crime has become relatively more common in the city compared to state trends.
Arson cases in the city have been sporadic and low in number. The data shows only one reported case in most years when arson was recorded, with no clear trend over time. The city's contribution to state arson cases has fluctuated between 0% and 0.54% over the years, indicating that arson is not a significant or consistent problem in the city.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The decrease in overall property crime rates coincides with a period of population decline and increasing median income. The median income rose from $67,322 in 2013 to $61,855 in 2022, potentially suggesting that improved economic conditions may have contributed to the reduction in property crimes, particularly burglaries.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next seven years (up to 2029, which is five years from now in 2024) suggests a continuation of the overall downward trend in property crimes. Burglaries are expected to continue decreasing, potentially reaching single digits annually. Larceny-theft is likely to remain the most common property crime but may stabilize or slightly decrease. Motor vehicle theft might show a slight increase but is expected to remain relatively low.
In summary, Ventnor City has experienced a significant reduction in property crimes over the past decade, particularly in burglaries. This positive trend has occurred despite a declining population, suggesting effective law enforcement strategies or improved community conditions. The city's evolving share of state crime statistics indicates that it has made progress in some areas while facing ongoing challenges in others, particularly larceny-theft. As the city continues to adapt to demographic and economic changes, maintaining focus on crime prevention strategies will be crucial in sustaining and improving upon these positive trends in property crime rates.
