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Violent Crime Trends in Palos Heights: A Decade of Fluctuations in a Small Illinois City
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Palos Heights, Illinois, has witnessed fluctuating violent crime rates over the past decade, set against a backdrop of gradual population decline. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes increased from 3 to 8, representing a 166.67% increase. During this same period, the population decreased from 13,821 to 13,021, a 5.79% reduction.
The city has maintained a consistently low murder rate throughout the observed period. From 2010 to 2022, there was only one reported murder, occurring in 2017. This single incident represented 0.11% of the state's murders that year. With a rate of 0.073 murders per 1,000 people in 2017, this isolated event had a minimal impact on the overall safety perception of the city. The absence of murders in other years indicates that homicide is not a persistent concern for residents.
Rape incidents have shown some variability over the years. The city reported no rapes from 2010 to 2011 and 2014 to 2018. However, there were spikes in 2012 (2 cases, 0.11% of state total) and 2021 (5 cases, 0.54% of state total). In 2022, there was 1 reported rape (0.03% of state total). The rape rate per 1,000 people peaked in 2021 at 0.375, decreasing to 0.077 in 2022. This fluctuation suggests the need for continued vigilance in sexual assault prevention efforts.
Robbery trends have shown some variation. In 2010, there were 3 robberies (0.02% of state total), decreasing to zero incidents in 2015 and 2016. The highest number of robberies was recorded in 2021 with 3 cases (0.34% of state total). In 2022, there were 2 robberies (0.02% of state total). The robbery rate per 1,000 people in 2022 was 0.154, slightly higher than the 2010 rate of 0.217. While robberies remain relatively infrequent, their occurrence warrants ongoing attention from law enforcement.
Aggravated assault cases have shown an overall increasing trend. In 2010, there were no reported cases, but by 2022, there were 5 incidents (0.04% of state total). The peak was in 2021 with 7 cases (0.14% of state total). The aggravated assault rate per 1,000 people rose from 0 in 2010 to 0.384 in 2022. This upward trend in aggravated assaults is a concern that may require targeted intervention strategies.
There appears to be a correlation between the slight increase in violent crimes and the gradual decrease in the white population percentage, which declined from 91% in 2014 to 86% in 2022. Concurrently, the Hispanic population increased from 4% to 10% during the same period. However, it's important to note that correlation does not imply causation, and these demographic shifts coincide with broader regional trends.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, it's projected that by 2029, Palos Heights may see a slight increase in violent crimes, potentially reaching 10-12 incidents annually. This forecast assumes current trends continue without significant intervention or societal changes.
In summary, while Palos Heights has experienced an overall increase in violent crimes from 2010 to 2022, the absolute numbers remain relatively low for a city of its size. The most notable trends are the rise in aggravated assaults and the variability in rape incidents. As the city continues to evolve demographically, maintaining and enhancing community-based crime prevention strategies will be crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.
