Loading Content...
Property Crime Trends in West Chicago: A Decade of Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
West Chicago, located in Illinois, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 361 to 219, representing a 39.3% reduction. During this same period, the city's population remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from 29,726 in 2010 to 29,867 in 2020, followed by a decrease to 28,862 in 2022.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a notable decline over the years. In 2010, there were 82 reported burglaries, which dropped to 23 by 2020, marking a 72% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 2.76 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 0.77 per 1,000 in 2020. The city's share of state burglaries fluctuated but generally remained low, ranging from 0.09% to 0.21% of the state total. This downward trend in burglaries suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies in the area.
Larceny-theft, the most common property crime in the city, also experienced a significant decline. The number of larceny-theft incidents decreased from 267 in 2010 to 172 in 2019, a 35.6% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 8.98 in 2010 to 5.61 in 2019. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures remained relatively constant, hovering around 0.15% to 0.19%. This consistent decrease in larceny-theft cases indicates a positive trend in overall community safety and property protection.
Motor vehicle theft showed fluctuations but an overall downward trend. In 2010, there were 12 reported cases, which increased to 28 in 2013 before declining to 12 again in 2019. The rate per 1,000 residents varied accordingly, from 0.40 in 2010 to 0.39 in 2019, with a peak of 0.91 in 2013. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts ranged from 0.05% to 0.16%, indicating that while there were variations, the city maintained a relatively small proportion of the state's vehicle thefts.
Arson cases in the city remained low throughout the decade, with the highest number being 6 cases in 2011 and 2012, and the lowest being 0 in 2018. The rate per 1,000 residents never exceeded 0.20. The city's contribution to state arson cases varied widely, from 0.08% to 0.67%, suggesting that while arson is not a prevalent issue, individual incidents can significantly impact the city's share of state totals due to the low overall numbers.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between the decline in property crimes and the increase in median income. As the median income rose from $77,221 in 2013 to $85,363 in 2022, property crimes generally decreased. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing increased from 70% in 2013 to 75% in 2022, which may have contributed to the reduction in property crimes, particularly burglaries.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's forecasted that by 2029, property crime rates in West Chicago could continue to decrease, potentially reaching a total of around 180-200 incidents annually. Burglaries might stabilize at 20-25 cases per year, while larceny-theft could further reduce to approximately 150-160 incidents annually. Motor vehicle theft and arson are expected to remain low, with potentially 10-15 and 0-2 cases per year, respectively.
In summary, West Chicago has experienced a significant and consistent reduction in property crimes over the past decade, particularly in burglaries and larceny-theft. This positive trend, coupled with increasing median income and home ownership rates, suggests an improving quality of life and safety for residents. As the city continues to evolve, maintaining these crime reduction strategies will be crucial for sustaining and potentially improving upon these encouraging trends in community safety.
