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Violent Crime Trends in Cape Coral: Coastal City's Decade of Change
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Cape Coral, Florida, a coastal city known for its extensive canal system, has experienced significant changes in violent crime trends over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of violent crimes in the city decreased by 7.6%, from 276 to 255 incidents. During this same period, the population grew substantially by 28.9%, from 154,668 to 199,511 residents, indicating a notable decrease in the per capita crime rate.
The murder rate in Cape Coral has fluctuated over the years, with no clear long-term trend. In 2010, there were 3 murders, representing 0.56% of the state's total. This number remained relatively stable, reaching a peak of 5 murders in 2016 and 2019, before dropping to 1 in 2020. When adjusted for population growth, the murder rate per 1,000 people decreased from 0.019 in 2010 to 0.005 in 2020. The city's share of state murders also declined, from 0.56% in 2010 to 0.13% in 2020, suggesting an improvement in public safety relative to the rest of Florida.
Rape incidents in the city have shown a slight upward trend. In 2010, there were 23 reported rapes, which decreased to 7 in 2013 but then rose to 18 in 2020. Despite the numerical increase, the rape rate per 1,000 people actually decreased from 0.149 in 2010 to 0.090 in 2020 due to population growth. The city's share of state rape cases fluctuated, peaking at 0.84% in 2010 and dropping to 0.47% by 2020, indicating that rape incidents grew at a slower rate than the state average.
Robbery trends in Cape Coral show a significant decline. In 2010, there were 64 robberies, which decreased to 20 by 2020, representing a 68.8% reduction. The robbery rate per 1,000 people fell from 0.414 in 2010 to 0.100 in 2020. The city's contribution to state robbery figures also decreased from 0.38% to 0.23% over the same period, suggesting that Cape Coral has become relatively safer in terms of robbery compared to other parts of Florida.
Aggravated assault cases in the city have shown an overall increase. In 2010, there were 186 reported cases, which rose to 216 in 2020, representing a 16.1% increase. However, when adjusted for population growth, the rate per 1,000 people decreased from 1.202 in 2010 to 1.083 in 2020. Interestingly, the city's share of state aggravated assault cases increased from 0.51% to 0.64% during this period, indicating that aggravated assaults in Cape Coral grew at a faster rate than the state average.
There appears to be a correlation between population density and violent crime rates in Cape Coral. As the population density increased from 1,458 per square mile in 2010 to 1,881 per square mile in 2020, the overall violent crime rate per 1,000 people decreased from 1.784 to 1.278. This suggests that despite becoming more densely populated, the city has managed to reduce its violent crime rate.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends, it is estimated that by 2029, Cape Coral may see a further 5-10% decrease in overall violent crime rates, assuming current trends and population growth patterns continue. However, aggravated assaults may continue to rise slightly in absolute numbers while decreasing in per capita terms.
In summary, Cape Coral has shown a generally positive trend in violent crime reduction over the past decade, particularly in robberies and per capita rates across most categories. The city has managed to maintain relatively low crime rates despite significant population growth, with its share of state crime figures decreasing in several categories. The most concerning trend is the slight increase in aggravated assaults, which warrants continued attention from local law enforcement. Overall, Cape Coral's crime trends suggest a city that is becoming safer relative to its population size and in comparison to state averages.
