CALVERT, Texas (KBTX) – Newly released FBI crime data ranks the small town of Calvert as the most burglarized city in the state, but city officials and long-time residents insist it doesn’t paint an accurate picture of their quiet community.
A SafeWise analysis of 2023 data identified Calvert as the most burglarized city in Texas, a finding derived from examining FBI burglary numbers in conjunction with population size.
With a population of just 969 residents and a total of 16 burglaries in 2023, it’s this per-capita figure that propelled Calvert to the top of the list.
This ranking doesn’t mean Calvert had the highest overall number of burglaries; larger cities like Houston and Dallas report far more cases.
City of Calvert Chief of Police Cedric Watson told KBTX he was shocked by the ranking.
While the numbers place Calvert at the top of a concerning list, Chief Watson maintains that the town remains a peaceful place to live and work.
“With the burglaries, it’s the businesses and the homes, I’ve seen the entrances they make,” Chief Watson explained. “It’s been pretty mediocre around here, not bad since I’ve been here.”
He insists that, despite the statistics, Calvert is typically a quiet town with low crime.
Local business owner Gwen Butler echoed this sentiment, finding the report unbelievable.
“I mean, that’s unbelievable. We’ve only got seven to 900 people here, and I haven’t heard of a burglar,” Butler remarked.
She states she has never had problems with burglars in Downtown Calvert. Both Butler and Chief Watson urge people to look beyond the raw figures.
“Don’t look at the numbers, look at the people within the town,” Watson added. “Get your own perspective of what’s going on.”
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