Money For the Rest of Us

Our Car Was Attacked! Is Property Crime Increasing?

Sep 13, 2023

The podcast discusses recent personal encounters with property crime and explores trends in property crime rates. It analyzes the factors influencing crime rates and debunks misconceptions. The impact of switching from leaded to unleaded gas on crime rates is explored. The episode also provides tips to reduce exposure to property crime and emphasizes the importance of trusting intuition.

24:31

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Quick takeaways

Property crime rates in the United States have been decreasing over the past few decades, with a 62% decline from 1991 to 2021, despite anecdotal incidents suggesting otherwise.

While overall property crime rates are declining, specific crimes like motor vehicle theft and organized retail crime have seen recent increases, indicating localized shifts in criminal activity.

Deep dives

Property Crime Trend: Downward over the Decades

Property crime, including theft and robbery, has been on a downward trend in the United States over the past few decades. According to data from the FBI, property crimes per 100,000 people have declined by 62% from 1991 to 2021. Despite anecdotal incidents and perceptions of crime increasing, the overall statistics show a decrease in property crime rates. However, certain areas like Oakland continue to have higher property crime rates compared to the national average.

Introduction

3min

Crime Trends: Anecdotes vs Statistics

5min

Understanding Property Crime and Perceptions of Crime

8min

The Impact of Switching from Leaded to Unleaded Gas on Crime Rates

8min

Reducing Exposure to Property Crime and Trusting Our Intuition

4min

David shares how thieves recently tried to smash and grab his luggage from his car while he was still inside it. He then explores property crime trends, whether they are increasing or decreasing, and why.

Topic covers include:

How thieves have stolen luggage from the same gas station multiple times per day
What have property crime rates been in the U.S. over the past few decades and since the end of the pandemic
What are reasons property crime rises and falls
What is inventory shrink and how is it impacting retailers
What can we do to reduce the risk of being a crime victim

Show Notes

Chevron Oakland Hegenberger Rd—Yelp

Myths and Realities: Understanding Recent Trends in Violent Crime by Ames Grawert and Noah Kim—Brennan Center for Justice

Reported property crime rate in the United States from 1990 to 2021—Statista

Pandemic, Social Unrest, and Crime in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2022 Update—Council on Criminal Justice

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS NATIONWIDE SURGE ACCORDING TO NEW REPORT—Cision PR Newswire

What the data says (and doesn’t say) about crime in the United States by John Gramlich—Pew Research Center

Oakland’s crime rates are surging. Here’s how they compare with S.F. and other Bay Area cities by Susie Neilson—San Francisco Chronicle

OAKLAND NAACP CALLS ON POLITICIANS TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIMINALS—California Policy Center

Money under the mattress: economic crisis and crime by Eleni Kyrkopoulou, Alexandros Louka, and Kristin Fabbe—SSRN

What Caused the Crime Decline? by Lauren-Brooke Eisen—Brennan Center for Justice

What’s Behind All This ‘Shrink’? by Jordyn Holman—The New York Times