Greenville, South Carolina
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
Date all data was sourced: 01/08/2026
How safe is Greenville, SC
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 Greenville, 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 1,139 in Greenville in 2023 compared with 1,047 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 92.
The Greenville crime rate for burglary in 2023 was 1,532 per 100,000 people. This compares with 1,408 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 5,307 in Greenville in 2023 compared with 5,221 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of just 86.
The Greenville crime rate for larceny in 2023 was 7,136 per 100,000 people. This compares with 7,020 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 787 in Greenville in 2023 compared with 738 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 49.
The Greenville crime rate for motor vehicle theft in 2023 was 1,058 per 100,000 people. This compares with 992 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 212 in Greenville in 2023 compared with 140 cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year increase of 72.
The Greenville crime rate for robbery in 2023 was 86 per 100,000 people. This compares with 188 per 100,000 people in 2024.
Between March 2020 and December 2023, we can see a total of:
8,784
total larcenies in Greenville
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
2,874
accounted for auto
1,221
accounted for other
2,615
accounted for shoplifting
763
accounted for auto accessories
991
accounted from buildings
287
accounted from bicycles
When it comes to burglary during that same three-year period, we can see a total of:
1,166
cases of burglary in Greenville
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
383
happened at residences during the day
328
happened at residences at night
270
happened at non-residences during the day
185
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 Greenville, SC fall victim to these crimes.
How is property crime affecting people in Greenville?
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 Greenville, SC.
02.
How Greenville Police Department is Working to Prevent Property Crime
Want to know more about Greenville crime news and general police safety measures to tackle crime in your neighborhood? We’ve grouped some some recent initiatives from the Greenville Police.
Crime Prevention Unit
Want to know more about what police are doing to tackle crime in your neighborhood and make Greenville safe for families like yours? Learn about initiatives by the Greenville Police Department to bring the down the crime rate in this part of South Carolina.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
CPTED is a worldwide program adopted by the Greenville Police Department. It focuses on deterring criminal behavior through environmental design – for example, street lighting and landscaping.
Crime prevention presentations and safety talks
Greenville 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.
SafeWatch Camera Program
The local police department runs a voluntary community program where residents can add their home security cameras to a city-wide network to aid investigations. This helps keep people safe, enabling police to better address crime in real time.
Nextdoor
This free and private social network helps keep neighbors and community members connected. Members of the police department and the Crime Prevention and Outreach officer are also active on the network, building a stronger sense of community and communication.
Learn more about the Greenville Police Department's Crime Prevention Services
03.
How does Greenville’s crime rate compare to other cities in South Carolina?
To give you an idea of how Greenville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 72,000 | 1,047 | 5,221 | 738 | 140 |
| Columbia | 142,000 | 718 | 3,426 | 548 | 155 |
| Charleston | 155,000 | 219 | 2,602 | 356 | 68 |
| Myrtle Beach | 39,697 | 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 Greenville
Greenville Police Department
Hobart Lewis
05.
How to protect your home against property crime
More crime data
South Carolina
Tennessee
Georgia
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 12/5/2025 | All crime data statistics updated |
| 01/08/2026 | All crime data statistics updated |
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