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Violent Crime Trends in Glen Ellyn: A Decade of Change in a Suburban Illinois Community
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a suburban community located approximately 24 miles west of Chicago, has experienced fluctuations in violent crime rates over the past decade against a backdrop of modest population growth. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of violent crimes in Glen Ellyn doubled from 10 to 20 incidents, representing a 100% increase. During the same period, the population grew from 33,694 to 33,769, a slight increase of 0.22%.
The murder rate in Glen Ellyn has remained consistently low, with only two reported cases over the 11-year period from 2010 to 2020. These occurred in 2011 and 2013, each representing 0.17% of the state's total murders for those years. With a population of around 33,000, this translates to a murder rate of approximately 0.03 per 1,000 residents in the years when murders occurred, and zero in other years. The infrequency of murders suggests that homicide is not a significant ongoing concern for the community.
Rape incidents have fluctuated over the years, with a notable peak in 2018 at 8 cases, representing 0.18% of the state's total. The rate per 1,000 residents reached its highest at 0.24 in 2018, compared to 0.06 in 2010. However, by 2020, reported rapes had decreased to just 1 case, or 0.03 per 1,000 residents, accounting for 0.03% of the state's total. This significant reduction suggests improved safety or potentially changed reporting practices in recent years.
Robbery trends show an increase from 1 incident in 2010 to 8 in 2020, with the highest number (9) recorded in 2015. The rate per 1,000 residents rose from 0.03 in 2010 to 0.24 in 2020. The city's share of state robberies also increased from 0.01% to 0.08% over this period. This upward trend in robberies, while concerning, still represents a relatively low absolute number for a city of this size.
Aggravated assault cases have shown the most significant increase among violent crimes. From 7 incidents in 2010, the number rose to 11 in 2020, peaking at 13 in 2016. The rate per 1,000 residents increased from 0.21 in 2010 to 0.33 in 2020. The city's proportion of state aggravated assaults grew from 0.03% to 0.04% over the decade. This trend suggests a need for focused attention on assault prevention and community safety measures.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate positive relationship between the increase in violent crimes and the slight growth in population density, which rose from 4,889 per square mile in 2010 to 4,899 in 2020. Additionally, there's a notable correlation between the rise in violent crimes and changes in racial demographics. The percentage of white residents decreased from 84% in 2013 to 81% in 2020, while the Asian population increased from 6% to 7%, and the Hispanic population from 5% to 6% during the same period. However, it's crucial to note that correlation does not imply causation, and these demographic shifts alone do not explain changes in crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on the observed trends, it's projected that by 2029, Glen Ellyn may see a continued modest increase in overall violent crimes. The total number of violent incidents could potentially reach 25-30 per year, with aggravated assaults and robberies likely contributing the most to this increase. However, murder rates are expected to remain very low, potentially with years of no incidents interspersed with occasional single cases.
In summary, Glen Ellyn has experienced a notable increase in violent crimes over the past decade, particularly in robberies and aggravated assaults, while maintaining a very low murder rate. These trends, occurring alongside subtle demographic shifts and population growth, underscore the need for targeted community safety initiatives. Despite the increases, the absolute numbers remain relatively low for a suburban community of this size, suggesting that Glen Ellyn continues to be a generally safe place to live, with opportunities for proactive measures to address the observed trends in violent crime.
