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Property Crime Trends in Wadley, Georgia: A Decade of Significant Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Wadley, located in Georgia, has experienced notable changes in property crime rates and population over the recent years. The total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 84 in 2012 to 33 in 2022, representing a 60.7% reduction. During the same period, the population fluctuated, starting at 2,686 in 2012 and ending at 2,778 in 2022, showing a slight overall increase of 3.4%.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial decline over the years. In 2012, there were 18 burglaries, which decreased to 5 in 2022, marking a 72.2% reduction. When considering the population, the burglary rate per 1,000 people dropped from 6.7 in 2012 to 1.8 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, starting at 0.06% in 2012, peaking at 0.18% in 2018, and settling at 0.05% in 2022. This trend suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies in preventing burglaries.
Larceny-theft incidents also showed a downward trend. The number of cases fell from 63 in 2012 to 27 in 2022, a 57.1% decrease. The rate per 1,000 people dropped from 23.5 in 2012 to 9.7 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft cases remained relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 0.06% in 2012 to 0.04% in 2022. This reduction in larceny-theft cases could indicate improved community vigilance or enhanced security measures in public spaces and businesses.
Motor vehicle theft in the city remained low but showed some fluctuation. There were 3 cases in 2012, which decreased to 1 in 2022, representing a 66.7% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people dropped from 1.1 in 2012 to 0.4 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased from 0.03% in 2012 to 0.01% in 2022, indicating that the city has maintained relatively low levels of this crime compared to the state average.
Regarding arson, the data shows no cases reported for most years, with only 2022 reporting 0 cases. This lack of data makes it difficult to analyze trends or draw meaningful conclusions about arson in the city.
Examining correlations between crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the median income increased from $20,802 in 2013 to $34,064 in 2022, property crime rates decreased. This suggests a possible inverse relationship between economic prosperity and property crime. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing increased from 54% in 2017 to 72% in 2022, coinciding with the decrease in property crimes. This could indicate that higher home ownership rates contribute to community stability and lower crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that property crime rates in Wadley will continue to decrease over the next five years (up to 2029). The total number of property crimes could potentially drop to around 20-25 cases annually by 2029 if current trends persist.
In summary, Wadley has shown remarkable improvement in property crime rates over the past decade, with significant reductions in burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. These positive trends, coupled with rising median income and home ownership rates, suggest a strengthening community fabric and improved quality of life for residents. As the city continues to evolve, maintaining these positive trends will be crucial for its long-term safety and prosperity.
