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Property Crime Trends in Waldo, Florida: A Study of Significant Reduction
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Waldo, located in Florida, presents an interesting case study in property crime trends. From 2011 to 2013, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 56 to 24, representing a 57.1% reduction. This decline occurred while the population fluctuated, starting at 4,158 in 2011, dipping to 3,969 in 2013, and ultimately reaching 4,095 in 2022.
Burglary rates in the city showed a notable decline over the observed period. In 2011, there were 22 burglaries, which decreased to 5 in 2013, marking a 77.3% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 5.29 per 1,000 residents in 2011 to 1.26 per 1,000 in 2013. The city's share of state burglaries also decreased from 0.02% in 2011 to 0.01% in 2013, indicating an improvement in local burglary rates relative to the state average.
Larceny-theft incidents also demonstrated a downward trend. The number of cases dropped from 31 in 2011 to 17 in 2013, a 45.2% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents declined from 7.46 in 2011 to 4.28 in 2013. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures remained constant at 0.01% throughout this period, suggesting that the local reduction was in line with state-wide trends.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed a slight decrease, from 3 incidents in 2011 to 2 in 2013. When adjusted for population, the rate decreased from 0.72 per 1,000 residents in 2011 to 0.50 per 1,000 in 2013. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained stable at 0.01% during this time, indicating that the local trend mirrored state-wide patterns.
Arson incidents were not reported in the data for the given years, suggesting either an absence of such crimes or a lack of data collection for this category.
Examining correlations between crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the population density increased from 1,912 per square mile in 2011 to 1,989 in 2021, property crime rates declined, suggesting that increased density did not lead to higher crime rates in this case. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing decreased from 75% in 2013 to 68% in 2022, which coincided with the overall reduction in property crimes.
Racial demographics also shifted during this period, with the white population decreasing from 81% in 2013 to 64% in 2022, while the black population increased from 14% to 25%. Despite these demographic changes, property crime rates continued to decline, indicating no strong correlation between racial composition and crime rates in this context.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, we can forecast that property crime rates in Waldo are likely to continue their downward trend over the next five years (up to 2029). However, this projection should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited data range and potential unforeseen factors that could influence crime rates.
In summary, Waldo has experienced a significant reduction in property crimes from 2011 to 2013, with particularly notable decreases in burglary and larceny-theft rates. This improvement occurred against a backdrop of demographic changes, including shifts in population density, home ownership, and racial composition. The city's crime trends generally aligned with or outperformed state-wide patterns, suggesting effective local crime prevention strategies or broader socioeconomic factors at play. As Waldo continues to evolve, maintaining these positive trends will be crucial for the community's safety and quality of life.
