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Property Crime Trends in Washington Court House: A Decade of Declining Burglaries
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Washington Court House, a city in Ohio, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade, set against a backdrop of modest population growth. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 465 to 267, representing a 42.6% reduction. During this same period, the population increased from 16,966 to 17,569, a growth of 3.6%.
Burglary trends in the city show a substantial decline over time. In 2010, there were 109 burglaries, which dropped to 22 in 2022, marking a 79.8% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 6.42 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 1.25 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, peaking at 0.33% in 2015 before declining to 0.1% in 2022. This significant reduction in burglaries suggests improved security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also showed a downward trend. In 2010, there were 348 larceny-thefts, which decreased to 228 in 2022, a 34.5% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people dropped from 20.51 in 2010 to 12.98 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft cases remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 0.22% and 0.46% over the years. This decline in larceny-theft rates, while less dramatic than burglary, still indicates a positive trend in overall property crime reduction.
Motor vehicle theft trends showed more volatility. In 2010, there were 8 reported cases, which increased to 17 in 2022, a 112.5% increase. However, when considering population growth, the rate per 1,000 people increased from 0.47 in 2010 to 0.97 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts rose from 0.05% in 2010 to 0.07% in 2022, peaking at 0.16% in 2020 and 2021. This increase in motor vehicle thefts, contrary to other property crime trends, may warrant targeted prevention efforts.
Arson cases in the city remained relatively low but showed significant fluctuations. In 2010, there was 1 reported case, which increased to 6 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people rose from 0.06 in 2010 to 0.34 in 2022. The city's contribution to state arson cases varied dramatically, from 0.04% in 2010 to a high of 0.7% in 2022. This sharp increase in 2022 is particularly noteworthy and may require focused investigation and prevention strategies.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As median income increased from $38,076 in 2013 to $46,001 in 2022, overall property crime rates decreased. Additionally, there's a slight positive correlation between the percentage of owner-occupied housing (which increased from 56% in 2013 to 58% in 2022) and reduced property crime rates, suggesting that higher home ownership might contribute to community stability and lower crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on current trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), overall property crime rates may continue to decrease, potentially reaching around 200 incidents per year. Burglary rates are expected to stabilize at very low levels, while larceny-theft may continue its gradual decline. Motor vehicle theft rates could potentially plateau or slightly increase if current trends persist. Arson cases, given their recent spike, are difficult to predict but may require targeted interventions to prevent further increases.
In conclusion, Washington Court House has made significant strides in reducing property crime over the past decade, particularly in burglary and larceny-theft. However, the recent increases in motor vehicle theft and arson highlight areas that may require focused attention. The city's evolving demographics and economic indicators appear to have played a role in these crime trends, underscoring the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors and crime rates.
