Charleston, South Carolina
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
Date all data was sourced: 01/08/2026
How safe is Charleston, SC
But if you live in the city, or are planning to move there, it’s a good idea to know about crime rates in the area. Our analysis of FBI data shows that reported cases of burglary were on the increase between 2022 and 2023. Read on to learn more about different types of property crime affecting Charleston.
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 Charleston, what’s happening at state level?
| Crime | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary / breaking entering | 19,345 | 17,624 | 15,533 |
| Larceny / theft offenses | 90,809 | 88,224 | 80,888 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 13,342 | 13,951 | 11,869 |
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
As you can see, reported cases of burglary decreased by 2,065 between 2023 and 2024, while cases of larceny decreased by 7,336. Motor vehicle theft, meanwhile, decreased by 2,082 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 256 in Charleston in 2023, compared with 219 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 37.
The Charleston crime rate for burglary in 2023 was 162 per 100,000 people. This compares with 139 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
Reported cases of larceny reached 2,334 in Charleston in 2023, compared with 2,602 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year increase of 268.
The Charleston crime rate for larceny in 2023 was 1,480 per 100,000 people. This compares with 1,650 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
Reported cases of motor vehicle theft reached 484 in Charleston in 2023, compared with 356 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 128.
The Charleston crime rate for motor vehicle theft in 2023 was 307 per 100,000 people. This compares with 226 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
Reported cases of robbery reached 82 in Charleston in 2023, compared with 68 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 14.
The Charleston crime rate for robbery in 2023 was 52 per 100,000 people. This compares with 43 per 100,000 people in 2024.
Between March 2020 and December 2023, we can see a total of:
9,386
total larcenies in Charleston
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
3,047
accounted for auto
1,339
accounted for other
2,355
accounted for shoplifting
811
accounted for auto accessories
1,198
accounted from buildings
524
accounted from bicycles
When it comes to burglary during that same three-year period, we can see a total of:
1,067
cases of burglary in Charleston
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
330
happened at residences during the day
305
happened at residences at night
283
happened at non-residences during the day
149
happened at non-residences at night
The impact of being a victim in property crime
How is property crime affecting people in Charleston?
But whether you live at the heart of the French Quarter or in Harleston Village, you’ll likely be concerned about property crime in your area. Below, we’ll take a closer look at safe Charleston, SC is by comparing FBI data from 2023 to 2024.
02.
How Charleston Police Department is Working to Prevent Property Crime
Want to know more about Charleston crime news and general police safety measures to tackle crime in your neighborhood? We’ve grouped some some recent initiatives from the Charleston Police.
Crime Prevention Unit
Want to know more about how the police are trying to tackle crime in your neighborhood? We’ve grouped some recent initiatives from Charleston Police Department.
Citizen Police Advisory Council (CPAC)
The Citizen Police Advisory Council (CPAC) encourages better collaboration between the community and Charleston police. The council itself consists of people from various corners of the city, and they aim to directly address concerns and improve communication between people and the police.
Citizen Academy
This 8-week program is open to Charleston residents who want to improve their understanding of how the police work. The Citizen Academy is another one of the city’s community-led initiatives that aims to improve the relationship between the force and the people it serves.
Security camera registration
The Charleston Police Department encourages all community members with security cameras to register them to aid in property crime investigations. Whether you have a camera installed on your home or business residence, any and all data can help officers track and resolve crime.
03.
How does Charleston’s crime rate compare to other cities in South Carolina?
To give you an idea of how Charleston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 157,665 | 219 | 2,602 | 356 | 68 |
| Columbia | 144,788 | 718 | 3,426 | 548 | 155 |
| Greenville | 74,371 | 1,047 | 5,221 | 738 | 140 |
| Myrtle Beach | 40,535 | 185 | 1,980 | 162 | 27 |
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 Charleston
Charleston Police Department
Chito Walker
05.
How to protect your home against property crime
More crime data
South Carolina
Tennessee
Georgia
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 9/03/2025 | All crime data statistics updated |
| 01/08/2026 | All crime data statistics updated |
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