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Property Crime Trends in Wamac: A Small Illinois City's Disproportionate Impact
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Wamac, located in Illinois, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. In 2013, the only year for which property crime data is available, the city recorded a total of 108 property crimes. This figure represents a snapshot of the city's criminal activity during a period when the population stood at 1,562. Over the subsequent years, the population experienced fluctuations, ultimately decreasing to 1,164 by 2022, marking a 25.5% reduction from 2013.
Burglary incidents in 2013 totaled 43, constituting 39.8% of all property crimes in the city. This translates to a rate of 27.5 burglaries per 1,000 residents. Notably, these burglaries accounted for 0.1% of all burglaries in the state of Illinois, a significant figure considering the city's small size. This high rate suggests that burglary was a particular concern for the community at that time.
Larceny-theft cases numbered 64 in 2013, making up 59.3% of property crimes in the city. The rate stood at 41 incidents per 1,000 residents. Interestingly, these thefts represented only 0.04% of the state's total, indicating that while larceny-theft was the most common property crime in the city, it was less prominent relative to state figures compared to burglary.
Motor vehicle theft was rare in Wamac, with only one incident reported in 2013. This equates to 0.6 thefts per 1,000 residents and constituted just 0.01% of the state's motor vehicle thefts. The low incidence suggests that this particular crime was not a major concern for the city at the time.
No arson cases were reported in 2013, indicating that this was not a significant issue for the city during that period.
When examining correlations between property crime and other socioeconomic factors, a notable relationship emerges with median income. In 2013, when property crimes were recorded, the median income was $37,456. Over the following years, as the median income fluctuated but generally increased, reaching $46,463 in 2021 before dropping to $37,574 in 2022, it's possible that these economic changes influenced property crime rates. However, without continuous crime data, it's challenging to draw definitive conclusions.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) is challenging due to the limited data available. However, based on the population decline and the slight increase in median income observed in recent years, it's possible that property crime rates could decrease if these trends continue. The city's high rate of owner-occupied housing (75% in 2022) could also contribute to community stability and potentially lower crime rates.
In conclusion, Wamac's property crime landscape in 2013 was characterized by a high incidence of burglary and larceny-theft relative to its population size. The city's contribution to state-wide property crime statistics was disproportionate to its size, particularly in burglaries. While it's impossible to draw definitive trends from a single year of data, the socioeconomic changes observed in subsequent years, including population decline and fluctuations in median income, likely influenced the property crime dynamics. As Wamac moves forward, monitoring these factors alongside future crime statistics will be crucial for understanding and addressing property crime in this small Illinois community.
