Myrtle Beach Crime Rate 2024 – Latest Statistics

Whether you are visiting for a beach vacation or looking to settle and live there, it can be helpful to review the Myrtle Beach crime rate for 2024. The vibrant coastal city in South Carolina provides residents and visitors with lovely beaches and lively entertainment. However, it is important to understand the local crime intricacies to ensure safety. In general, the city’s violent crime rate has been much higher than both South Carolina’s and the United States’ average crime rates.

This is often a surprise as many individuals assume this city is quite safe due to the tourism and city development. While there are many nuanced pieces that impact crime statistics, it is helpful to be aware of them. Local law enforcement agencies employ projects and strategies for positively impacting overall safety and security by community policing, patrolling high-crime areas, implementing crime prevention programs, and more.

Myrtle Beach Crime Rate

Along the picturesque coast of South Carolina lies the city of Myrtle Beach. The city of Myrtle Beach navigates a unique and dynamic crime landscape reflective of its vibrant tourism industry and diverse population. Known for its sandy shores and vibrant entertainment scene, the city is filled with various criminal activities ranging from property crimes such as burglary and theft to occasional instances of violent offenses.

As we are early into the year, specific crime rate metrics are not available, but it is predicted through crime trends that overall crime rates are on a decline in Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach holds approximately 36,500 residents, with nearly 2,000 reported crime accidents occurring on average, which positions this city as the sixth most perilous locale in South Carolina.

With a violent crime rate of around 49.31 per 1,000 inhabitants, the city surpasses both state and national averages, with an overall crime rate of 226.80, having concerning impacts on safety. In contrast with North Myrtle Beach’s comparative rate of 27.7, Myrtle Beach’s violent crime index stands higher at 76.3, highlighting the challenges faced in maintaining public security within the city’s confines.

What Types of Crimes Are Being Committed?

There are several groups of crimes that are more frequently committed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, including the following:

• Property Crimes: These crimes include offenses such as theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and vandalism. Property crimes are the most commonly reported crimes in Myrtle Beach, particularly in areas frequented by tourists.
• Violent Crimes: Violent crimes include the use of force or threats of force against another person and can include offenses such as assault, robbery, and homicide. Myrtle Beach generally holds a lower rate of violent crime compared to property crime, but incidents still sadly occur, especially in certain neighborhoods during peak tourist seasons.
• Drug-related Crimes: Drug crimes include the possession, distribution, and trafficking of illegal drugs. In Myrtle Beach, law enforcement agencies often target drug-related activities to address public safety concerns and reduce drug-related crime.
• DUI: Driving under the influence offenses involving alcohol or drugs are common in Myrtle Beach, particularly due to tourist activity. DUI checkpoints and patrols are often conducted by law enforcement locally due to the high rate of DUI’s.
• Financial Crimes: Crimes such as identity theft, fraud, and credit card scams can happen, particularly targeting tourists or residents who are less familiar with the local area.
• Domestic Crimes: Domestic crime includes physical, emotional, or psychological abuse within intimate relationships.
• Tourist-related Crimes: There are several tourist-related crimes that occur in Myrtle Beach, including scams, pickpocketings, and theft of personal belongings. In places with high tourist traffic, such as beaches, hotels, and entertainment districts, there is a higher rate of such crimes.

Though Myrtle Beach is fairly safe, crime rates and patterns can vary over time and can be influenced by factors such as seasonal fluctuations, economic conditions, and law enforcement strategies. Crime prevention efforts, community engagement, and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local stakeholders play vital and essential roles in addressing and reducing crime in Myrtle Beach.

FAQs

Q: Is Myrtle Beach a Safe Place to Live?

A: In general, whether Myrtle Beach is considered a safe place to live can vary depending on individual preferences, lifestyle factors, and personal experience. Crime rates are higher compared to both state and national averages, with burglary, theft, and vehicle theft as notable offenses. As Myrtle Beach is situated along the coast of South Carolina, it is susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms. Prospective residents should take time to thoroughly research this area before making a decision to move.

Q: What Is the Crime Rate in Myrtle Beach Compared to Other Cities?

A: In Myrtle Beach, with a population of around 36,500 individuals, there are, on average, close to 2,000 crime cases, making it the sixth most dangerous city in South Carolina. The violent crime rate is about 49.31 per 1,000 residents, which makes it a higher crime rate compared to both state and national averages. Compared to North Myrtle Beach’s crime rate of 27.7, Myrtle Beach has a crime rate for violent crimes of 76.3.

Q: What South Carolina City Has the Lowest Crime Rate?

A: While crime rates can be hard to determine accuracy due to the changing metrics used to gather information, Mount Pleasant is known to have one of the lowest crime rates in South Carolina, with a population of around 95,657 and a crime rate of 4.41 for every 1000 people. Violent crime is most likely to happen in urban settings, and given that Mount Pleasant is more suburban, it follows this logic.

Q: What Is the Most Common Crime in South Carolina?

A: Property crimes are generally considered the most common type of crime in South Carolina, as well as many other states throughout the United States. Property crime includes offenses like burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and vandalism. These crimes involve the unlawful taking or damaging of someone else’s property without the use of force or threat of force against the victim.

Contact a Myrtle Beach Attorney Today

If you have questions or concerns regarding crime in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, reach out to the attorneys at Axelrod & Associates P.A. today. We invite you to set up a consultation and learn how our Myrtle Beach criminal defense attorneys can step into your legal matter and offer detailed and personalized support.