The skyline of downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Date all data was sourced: 01/08/2026

How safe is Fayetteville, NC

Set along the banks of the Cape Fear River, Fayetteville is a picturesque part of North Carolina. Home to the Fort Bragg military base, over 200,000 people and wildlife like red-tailed hawks. If you’re one of those 200,000 people, it’s important to be aware of the city’s crime situation. Our analysis of FBI data shows reported cases of burglary and larceny declined between 2022 and 2023 in the city, while motor vehicle theft and robbery were on the rise. Read on to learn more about different types of property crime in Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville, what’s happening at state level?

The FBI Crime Data Explorer reveals how property crime compared across North Carolina between 2022 and 2023:
Crime202220232024
Burglary / breaking entering38,87337,07534,639
Larceny / theft offenses157,066154,591149,498
Motor vehicle theft20,87328,22227,455

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

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Reported cases of burglary were 1,118 in Fayetteville in 2023, compared with 824 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 294.

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The Fayetteville crime rate for burglary in 2023 was 528 per 100,000 people. This compares with 389 per 100,000 people in 2024.

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

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Reported cases of Larceny were 4,862 in Fayetteville in 2023, compared with 4,963 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year increase of 101.

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The Fayetteville crime rate for larceny in 2023 was 2,296 per 100,000 people. This compares with 2,344 per 100,000 people in 2024.

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

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Reported cases reached 713 in Fayetteville in 2023, compared with 757 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year increase of 44.

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The Fayetteville crime rate for motor vehicle theft in 2023 was 337 per 100,000 people. This compares with 357 per 100,000 people in 2024.

Robbery

Robbery is the taking of, or trying to take, something valuable from another person using force, threats, or intimidation.

Reported robbery cases

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Reported cases of robbery reached 262 in Fayetteville in 2023, compared with 219 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 43.

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The Fayetteville crime rate for robbery in 2023 was 124 per 100,000 people. This compares with 103 per 100,000 people in 2024.

Between March 2020 and December 2023, we can see a total of:

20,458

total larcenies in Fayetteville

4,518

accounted for auto

3,981

accounted for other

7,399

accounted for shoplifting

1,863

accounted for auto accessories

2,442

accounted from buildings

152

accounted from bicycles

When it comes to burglary during that same three-year period, we can see a total of:

4,686

cases of burglary in Fayetteville

1,686

happened at residences during the day

1,199

happened at residences at night

765

happened at non-residences during the day

1,036

happened at non-residences at night

The impact of being a victim in property crime

Being victim to any property crime, be it in Fayetteville, or anywhere in NC or the US, can have a lasting impact. In fact, research published in the medical journal Sage Choice suggests that people in burgled properties can go on to develop emotional trauma. A study by Portsmouth University in the UK also found that one in 10 people move home after a burglary. Another study suggests street robbery can cause severe psychological distress. Sadly, many people across Fayetteville and North Carolina fall victim to these crimes.

How is property crime affecting people in Fayetteville?

Fayetteville is the sixth-largest city in the state, with a population of over 209,000 in 2024, according to official records. Famed for its rural setting and US military heritage, residents and visitors and can explore the US Army Airbourne Museum or stroll around the pretty Hope Mills Lake. But whether you’re coming home to a place on Cottondale, on Haymount, or you live in the residential area by the lake, you’ll want to keep your home secure.

So, how common are crimes like burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft in Fayetteville, and are they on the rise? We compared FBI data from 2023 and 2024 to get the answers.

02.

How Fayetteville Police Department is Working to Prevent Property Crime

Want to know more about Fayetteville crime news and general police safety measures to tackle crime in your neighborhood? We’ve grouped some some recent initiatives from the Fayetteville Police.

Crime Prevention Unit

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Fayetteville Police Department is working to prevent property crime with some useful initiatives, which include:


Community Watch Program

The Fayetteville Community Watch program allows citizens to take part in cooperative initiatives with local law enforcement. This helps to reduce crime in local communities. It’s about people in neighborhoods looking out for one another, sending a message to criminals they’re under their watch.


Business Watch Program

Similar to the community program, but in this case local businesses in the same area look out for one another to reduce crime. It’s a partnership between businesses and the local police force, as well as other organizations representing business interests.


Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) emphasizes physical environment design that positively influences human behavior. In theory, law enforcement, architects, city planners, landscape designers, interior designers, and volunteers can help to build a safer environment from the ground up.


Crime Prevention Specialists

Crime Prevention Specialists work to create new partnerships with businesses in Fayetteville. The idea is for them to collaborate with law enforcement to make communities safer for all, for example, by creating crime prevention surveys and gathering relevant data to assist in reporting.

03.

How does Fayetteville’s crime rate compare to other cities in North Carolina?

To give you an idea of how Fayetteville stacks up against other cities across the state, we’ve compiled the data for the different types of property crime in 2023.

CityPopulationBurglaryLarcenyMotor Vehicle TheftRobbery
Fayetteville209,4968244,963757219
Charlotte943,4764,28525,2527,6141,307
Raleigh499,8251,36210,0882,355424
Greensboro307,3811,4717,0421,802528
"Across Fayetteville, we can see local people are having to deal with the impact of being burgled or having their car stolen. This is exactly why we’re so passionate about offering reassurance to North Carolina natives. If you’re looking for further support outside of implementing a security system, we recommend you follow the advice from theFayetteville Police Department on keeping your home safe.”

- Dan Hochstaetter, Head of Digital Customer Experience, CPI Security

04.

Emergency Services in Fayetteville

Fayetteville Police Department

467 Hay Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301

Sheriff Ennis W. Wright

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05.

How to protect your home against property crime

Homeowners can take steps to protect their property against crimes such as burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny with a home security system in Fayetteville. Systems comprise cameras, motion sensors and alarms – all controlled via a central hub and smartphone app.
Fayetteville's Crime Hub Page Updates
DateDetails
9/03/2025All crime data statistics updated
01/08/2026All crime data statistics updated

* This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. The data on this website is aggregated from publicly available sources. We cannot guarantee the completeness or reliability of the information. The data is provided "as is" without any warranties, express or implied. We are not responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising from the use of this information. Users should verify data with original sources.