Loading Content...
Schaumburg's Property Crime Decline: A Decade of Improvement in Chicago's Vibrant Suburb
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Schaumburg, Illinois, a vibrant suburb of Chicago, has experienced notable changes in its property crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes in Schaumburg decreased significantly by 29.3%, from 2,282 to 1,613 incidents. This reduction occurred despite a population growth of 6.8%, from 73,279 in 2010 to 78,285 in 2022, highlighting an improvement in overall safety within the community.
Burglary trends in the city show a consistent decline over the years. In 2010, there were 243 burglaries, which dropped to 77 in 2022, representing a substantial decrease of 68.3%. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate per 1,000 residents fell from 3.32 in 2010 to 0.98 in 2022. Interestingly, while the number of burglaries decreased, the city's share of state burglaries fluctuated. It started at 0.45% in 2010, dipped to 0.27% in 2018, and then rose to 0.46% in 2022, indicating that Schaumburg's burglary reduction outpaced the state average until recent years.
Larceny theft, the most common property crime in Schaumburg, also showed a downward trend. In 2010, there were 1,974 larceny thefts, which reduced to 1,441 in 2022, a 27% decrease. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 26.94 in 2010 to 18.41 in 2022. The city's share of state larceny thefts increased from 1.17% in 2010 to 1.41% in 2022, suggesting that Schaumburg's larceny theft reduction was less pronounced compared to the state average.
Motor vehicle theft exhibited a more complex pattern. The number of incidents increased from 65 in 2010 to 95 in 2022, a 46.2% rise. The rate per 1,000 residents grew from 0.89 in 2010 to 1.21 in 2022. However, the city's share of state motor vehicle thefts increased from 0.27% to 0.34% over the same period, indicating that this rise was part of a broader trend across Illinois.
Arson cases in Schaumburg remained relatively low throughout the period. The number of incidents decreased from 4 in 2010 to 3 in 2022, a 25% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped slightly from 0.055 to 0.038. The city's share of state arsons fluctuated significantly, from 0.38% in 2010 to a low of 0% in 2017, before rising to 0.45% in 2022, suggesting high variability in this rare crime category.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong inverse relationship between median income and property crime rates. As the median income increased from $76,344 in 2013 to $92,666 in 2022, a 21.4% rise, the overall property crime rate decreased. Additionally, there's a noticeable correlation between homeownership rates and property crime. As the percent of owner-occupied housing increased from 61% in 2013 to 65% in 2022, property crime rates generally declined, suggesting that higher homeownership might contribute to community stability and reduced crime.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we anticipate a continued gradual decrease in overall property crime rates. Burglary and larceny theft are expected to maintain their downward trajectories, potentially reaching rates of 0.8 and 16 per 1,000 residents, respectively. Motor vehicle theft may stabilize or slightly decrease as community and law enforcement efforts adapt to this trend. Arson is likely to remain low but variable.
In conclusion, Schaumburg has demonstrated a commendable improvement in its property crime landscape over the past decade. The significant reductions in burglary and larceny theft, coupled with the city's economic growth and increasing homeownership rates, paint a picture of a community becoming safer and more stable. While challenges remain, particularly in addressing the recent uptick in motor vehicle thefts, the overall trend suggests a positive outlook for Schaumburg's safety and security in the coming years.
