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Property Crime Trends in Zeigler, Illinois: A Tale of Significant Reduction
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Zeigler, located in Illinois, has experienced significant changes in its property crime rates over the years, alongside notable demographic shifts. From 2012 to 2016, the total number of property crimes decreased dramatically from 64 to 18, representing a 71.88% reduction. During this same period, the population declined from 2,656 to 2,651, a marginal decrease of 0.19%.
The burglary rate in the city showed a substantial decline between 2012 and 2016. In 2012, there were 27 burglaries, which equated to 10.17 burglaries per 1,000 residents. By 2016, this number had dropped to just 5 burglaries, or 1.89 per 1,000 residents, marking an 81.48% decrease. The city's share of state burglaries also decreased from 0.05% to 0.01% during this period. This significant reduction in burglaries suggests improved security measures or enhanced law enforcement efforts in the community.
Larceny-theft incidents also saw a considerable decrease. In 2012, there were 37 larceny-theft cases (13.93 per 1,000 residents), which fell to 12 cases (4.53 per 1,000 residents) in 2016, a 67.57% reduction. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft cases decreased from 0.02% to 0.01%. This downward trend in larceny-theft aligns with the overall reduction in property crimes and may indicate increased vigilance among residents or improved prevention strategies.
Motor vehicle theft showed an interesting pattern. In 2012, there were no reported motor vehicle thefts. However, by 2016, there was 1 reported case, resulting in a rate of 0.38 thefts per 1,000 residents. Despite this increase, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts remained minimal at 0.01%. This slight uptick, while notable, should be interpreted cautiously given the small absolute numbers involved.
Arson cases in the city remained at zero for both 2012 and 2016, indicating no reported incidents during these years. This consistency suggests effective fire prevention measures or possibly underreporting of such incidents.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. The decline in property crimes coincided with a period of relative stability in the city's racial composition, with the white population consistently making up 96-98% of the total. The median income increased from $40,671 in 2013 to $41,620 in 2016, which may have contributed to the reduction in property crimes. However, the homeownership rate remained stable at 83% during this period, suggesting that changes in property ownership were not a significant factor in crime reduction.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continuation of the downward trend, albeit at a slower rate. Based on the historical data and assuming similar socioeconomic conditions persist, we might expect to see property crimes further decrease by approximately 15-20% from 2022 levels by 2029. This would translate to around 14-15 total property crimes annually.
In summary, Zeigler has experienced a significant reduction in property crimes between 2012 and 2016, with burglary and larceny-theft showing the most dramatic decreases. This positive trend occurred against a backdrop of stable racial demographics and modest income growth. The forecasted continuation of this downward trend in property crimes suggests ongoing improvements in community safety and security measures. These developments paint a picture of a small city effectively managing and reducing property crime, potentially enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
