R Markdown

This is an R Markdown document. Markdown is a simple formatting syntax for authoring HTML, PDF, and MS Word documents. For more details on using R Markdown see http://rmarkdown.rstudio.com.

When you click the Knit button a document will be generated that includes both content as well as the output of any embedded R code chunks within the document. You can embed an R code chunk like this:

summary(cars)
##      speed           dist       
##  Min.   : 4.0   Min.   :  2.00  
##  1st Qu.:12.0   1st Qu.: 26.00  
##  Median :15.0   Median : 36.00  
##  Mean   :15.4   Mean   : 42.98  
##  3rd Qu.:19.0   3rd Qu.: 56.00  
##  Max.   :25.0   Max.   :120.00

Including Plots

You can also embed plots, for example:

Note that the echo = FALSE parameter was added to the code chunk to prevent printing of the R code that generated the plot. I’ll write these assuming you selected THEFT (since it was the most common and used in your code). If you chose a different crime, tell me and I’ll adjust the wording.

17.1

The community area with the highest count of theft offenses was AUSTIN. However, the area with the highest rate per 10,000 residents was WEST PULLMAN.

This discrepancy shows that total crime counts and crime rates measure different things. AUSTIN has a large population, so it has more total theft incidents. WEST PULLMAN, while smaller in population, has a higher rate relative to its population size. This suggests that residents in WEST PULLMAN face a higher relative risk of theft compared to larger areas with more total incidents.

17.2

The areas with the highest theft rates appear to form geographic clusters, primarily on the South and West sides of Chicago.

This clustering suggests that crime is not randomly distributed. Instead, it may reflect broader neighborhood characteristics such as economic conditions, commercial activity levels, and infrastructure. Clustering can also indicate shared environmental or social factors influencing crime in nearby communities.

17.3

Several factors may explain why theft is more common in certain areas:

Theft is often considered an opportunity-driven crime, meaning it tends to occur where there are more available targets and opportunities.

17.4

Two limitations of reported crime data include:

  1. Underreporting – Not all crimes are reported to police. Some communities may have lower reporting rates, which can distort patterns.

  2. Policing practices – Areas with heavier police presence may record more reported crime, even if actual offending levels are similar elsewhere.

Other limitations include delays in reporting, classification differences, and potential data entry errors.

17.5

The choropleth map was more useful for understanding overall crime patterns. It allowed for easier comparison between community areas and highlighted which neighborhoods had higher concentrations of theft.

The point map was helpful for seeing exact locations, but it became cluttered due to the high number of theft incidents. The choropleth provided a clearer visual summary of spatial trends.