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Property Crime Trends in Washington, Georgia: A Decade of Fluctuations
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Washington, Georgia, a small municipality with a population of 5,067 as of 2022, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the years. From 2010 to 2013, the total number of property crimes increased from 96 to 123, representing a 28.13% increase. During this same period, the population decreased from 6,416 to 6,159, a 4% decline. This inverse relationship between crime rates and population suggests a complex dynamic in the city's security landscape.
Burglary trends in the city have shown significant variability. In 2010, there were 20 reported burglaries, which increased to 41 in 2012, before dropping to 23 in 2013. This represents a 15% increase from 2010 to 2013. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents increased from 3.12 in 2010 to 3.73 in 2013. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, rising from 0.06% in 2010 to 0.13% in 2012, before declining to 0.08% in 2013. These fluctuations suggest periodic challenges in property security within the community.
Larceny-theft incidents showed a similar pattern of increase followed by a decrease. In 2010, 74 cases were reported, peaking at 128 in 2011, before declining to 92 in 2013. This represents a 24.32% increase from 2010 to 2013. The larceny-theft rate per 1,000 residents rose from 11.53 in 2010 to 14.94 in 2013. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft statistics increased from 0.07% in 2010 to 0.09% in 2013, indicating a slightly growing proportion of these crimes occurring within the city limits.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed a notable increase over the observed period. From 2 cases in 2010, it rose to 8 cases in 2013, a 300% increase. When adjusted for population, the rate per 1,000 residents increased from 0.31 in 2010 to 1.30 in 2013. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts grew from 0.02% to 0.07% during this period, suggesting a disproportionate increase compared to state trends.
Regarding arson, the data is limited, with only one year (2011) showing a recorded value of 0 incidents. The lack of consistent data makes it challenging to draw meaningful conclusions about arson trends in the city.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between property crime rates and population density. As the population density decreased from 833 per square mile in 2010 to 800 in 2013, property crimes increased. This could suggest that lower population density might be associated with higher crime rates, possibly due to reduced community surveillance.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, it's projected that by 2029, property crime rates in Washington may continue to fluctuate but with a potential overall decrease. This prediction is based on the observed trend of initial increase followed by a decrease in most crime categories from 2010 to 2013.
In summary, Washington has experienced varied property crime trends from 2010 to 2013, with initial increases followed by some declines. The most significant changes were observed in motor vehicle thefts, which saw a substantial percentage increase. The inverse relationship between population density and crime rates suggests that community dynamics play a crucial role in the city's security landscape. As the city moves forward, addressing these trends through targeted community policing and crime prevention strategies could be beneficial in maintaining and improving public safety.
