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Property Crime Trends in Williamston, NC: A Decade of Significant Decline
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Williamston, located in North Carolina, has experienced notable changes in property crime rates and population over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly by 55.1%, from 463 to 208 incidents. During the same period, the population declined by 16.1%, from 8,869 to 7,439 residents.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial decline over time. In 2010, there were 183 burglaries, which decreased to 37 by 2022, representing a 79.8% reduction. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 20.6 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 5.0 per 1,000 in 2022. Interestingly, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated, peaking at 0.52% in 2015 before dropping to 0.15% in 2022. This trend suggests that while burglaries have decreased citywide, the reduction has been more pronounced compared to state averages, indicating improved local security measures or changing criminal patterns.
Larceny-theft incidents also demonstrated a downward trend, though less dramatic than burglaries. The number of larceny-thefts decreased from 265 in 2010 to 157 in 2022, a 40.8% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 29.9 in 2010 to 21.1 in 2022. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures remained relatively stable, hovering around 0.2% to 0.23% for most of the period, before dropping to 0.13% in 2022. This suggests that while larceny-theft has decreased, the city's experience has generally aligned with statewide trends until recent years.
Motor vehicle theft in the city showed fluctuations but an overall slight decrease. In 2010, there were 15 incidents, which reduced to 14 by 2022, a 6.7% decrease. However, due to population decline, the rate per 1,000 residents actually increased slightly from 1.7 in 2010 to 1.9 in 2022. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained relatively low, ranging from 0.07% to 0.17% over the years, indicating that this crime type has not been a major concern relative to state levels.
Arson cases in the city have been relatively low but variable. The number of arsons ranged from 0 to 9 incidents per year, with 2 reported in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated accordingly, peaking at 1.15 in 2014 and settling at 0.27 in 2022. The city's contribution to state arson figures has been volatile, reaching as high as 1.06% in 2015 but generally remaining below 0.3% in most years.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As median income increased from $28,711 in 2013 to $34,216 in 2022, total property crimes decreased from 543 to 208. This suggests that improved economic conditions may contribute to reduced crime rates. Additionally, there's a notable correlation between the decline in property crimes and the slight increase in racial diversity, particularly the growth of the Hispanic population from 1% in 2013 to 9% in 2022.
Applying predictive models based on current trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), property crime rates in Williamston may continue to decrease, potentially reaching around 150 total incidents. This forecast assumes continued economic growth and demographic shifts similar to recent years.
In summary, Williamston has experienced a significant overall reduction in property crimes, particularly in burglaries and larceny-thefts, despite a declining population. The city's contribution to state crime figures has generally decreased, suggesting localized improvements in crime prevention. The correlation between rising incomes, increasing diversity, and falling crime rates points to positive socioeconomic changes that may continue to influence crime trends in the coming years.
