Wilmington, North Carolina
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
Date all data was sourced: 01/08/2026
How safe is Wilimington, NC
01.
What is property crime?
The FBI categorizes property crime as including burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. It defines these as ‘theft-type offenses’, i.e. property stolen from a victim unlawfully but without force or threat of force. The FBI categorizes robbery as a violent crime, but it’s also included in the property crime dataset we’re utilizing.
Before we get to Wilimington, what’s happening at state level?
| Crime | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary / breaking entering | 38,873 | 37,075 | 34,639 |
| Larceny / theft offenses | 157,066 | 154,591 | 149,498 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 20,873 | 28,222 | 27,455 |
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
Reported cases of burglary fell by 2,436 between 2023 and 2024, while cases of larceny fell by 5,093. Motor vehicle theft also trended downward by 767 cases over the 12-month period.
Burglary
Burglary is the unlawful entry to someone’s property to commit a felony or theft. This generally happens in someone’s home or on business premises.
Reported burglary cases
Reported cases of burglary reached 452 in Wilmington in 2024 compared with 560 cases in 2023. This is a year-on-year decrease of 108.
The Wilmington crime rate for burglary in 2024 was 368 per 100,000 people. This compares with 456 per 100,000 people in 2023.
Larceny
Larceny is illegally taking, moving, or carrying away someone else's property without permission. Though if being taken from someone’s home the person must have entered lawfully.
Reported larceny cases
Reported cases of larceny reached 3,563 in Wilmington in 2024 compared with 3,410 cases in 2023. This is a year-on-year increase of 153 incidents.
The Wilmington crime rate for larceny in 2024 was 2,904 per 100,000 people. This compares with 2,779 per 100,000 people in 2023.
Motor vehicle theft
Motor vehicle theft is stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle, such as an automobile or pickup.
Reported motor vehicle theft cases
Reported cases of motor vehicle theft reached 390 in Wilmington in 2024 compared with 356 cases in 2023. This is a year-on-year increase of 44 incidents.
The Wilmington crime rate for motor vehicle theft in 2024 was 318 per 100,000 people. This compares with 290 per 100,000 people in 2023.
Robbery
Robbery is the taking of, or trying to take, something valuable from another person using force, threats, or intimidation.
Reported robbery cases
Reported cases of robbery reached 91 in Wilmington in 2024 compared with 122 cases in 2023. This is a year-on-year decrease of 31 incidents.
The Wilmington crime rate for robbery in 2024 was 74 per 100,000 people. This compares with 99 per 100,000 people in 2023.
Between March 2020 and December 2023, we can see a total of:
11,254
total larcenies in Wilimington
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
3,327
accounted for auto
2,306
accounted for other
3,007
accounted for shoplifting
834
accounted for auto accessories
923
accounted from buildings
689
accounted from bicycles
When it comes to burglary during that same three-year period, we can see a total of:
2,206
cases of burglary in Wilimington
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
764
happened at residences during the day
649
happened at residences at night
380
happened at non-residences during the day
413
happened at non-residences at night
The impact of being a victim in property crime
Portsmouth University in the UK also found that one in ten people even move home after their property is burgled. Meanwhile, another study suggests that people can be left with quite severe psychological distress after being a victim of robbery.
Unfortunately, many people across Wilmington, NC fall victim to these crimes.
How is property crime affecting people in Wilimington?
In our analysis, we’ve also included data for robbery – which the FBI classes as a ‘violent crime’. However, it’s still part of the property crime data set we’re using, and is important when understanding the overall picture of crime in Wilmington, NC.
02.
How Wilimington Police Department is Working to Prevent Property Crime
Want to know more about Wilimington crime news and general police safety measures to tackle crime in your neighborhood? We’ve grouped some some recent initiatives from the Wilimington Police.
Crime Prevention Unit
Crime prevention presentations and safety talks
Wilmington has a dedicated Crime Prevention and Outreach officer active and present in the community. One of the main services they offer is crime prevention presentations and safety talks, delivered in schools and at workplaces.
Cop Camp
A free summer camp designed to foster positive interactions between children (grades 3–6) and officers through field trips and recreational activities.
Police Activities League (PAL)
Officers coach youth sports like basketball, soccer, and baseball to build trust and offer developmental opportunities.
Elements Program
A year-long diversion program for youth in grades 4–12 focusing on conflict resolution, behavioral modification, and preventing gang involvement.
Budget & Equipment Investments
n late 2025, the city invested over $9.5 million in public safety, including new 800 MHz radios for better communication, a virtual reality use-of-force simulator for officer training, and new bomb trucks.
Learn more about the Wilmington Police Department's Crime Prevention Services
03.
How does Wilimington’s crime rate compare to other cities in North Carolina?
To give you an idea of how Wilimington stacks up against other cities across the state, we’ve compiled the data for the different types of property crime in 2023.
| City | Population | Burglary | Larceny | Motor Vehicle Theft | Robbery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilimington | 127,633 | 452 | 3,563 | 390 | 91 |
| Charlotte | 943,476 | 4,285 | 25,252 | 7,614 | 1,307 |
| Greensboro | 307,381 | 1,471 | 7,042 | 1,802 | 528 |
| Fayetteville | 209,496 | 824 | 4,963 | 757 | 219 |
Populations data: United States Census Bureau
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
- Dan Hochstaetter, Head of Digital Customer Experience, CPI Security
04.
Emergency Services in Wilimington
Wilimington Police Department
Chief Ryan Zuidema
05.
How to protect your home against property crime
More crime data
South Carolina
Tennessee
Georgia
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 12/30/2025 | All crime data statistics updated |
| 01/08/2026 | All crime data statistics updated |
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