Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
Date all data was sourced: 01/08/2026
How safe is Myrtle Beach, SC
Before deciding to move to Myrtle Beach, SC, it’s a good idea to know about crime rates in the city and its neighborhoods. We’ve analyzed FBI data and discovered that reported cases of property crime have generally decreased between 2022 and 2023. Read our full Myrtle Beach crime report to find out more about property crime trends in the city.
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 Myrtle Beach, 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
Using the FBI’s Myrtle Beach crime statistics for 2024, there were a reported 185 total cases of burglary, compared with 152 in 2023. This is a year-on-year increase of 33.
The 2024 burglary crime rate in Myrtle Beach was 456 per 100,000 people. This compares to 375 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 in Myrtle Beach in 2023 were 1,996, compared with 1,980 in 2024. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 16.
The larceny crime rate in Myrtle Beach in 2023 was 4,924 per 100,000 people, whereas the larceny crime rate in 2024 was 4,885 per 100,000 people.
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
FBI data for Myrtle Beach shows that there were 195 reported cases of motor vehicle theft in 2023, while the number of reported cases in 2024 was 162. This is a year-on-year decrease of 33.
The Myrtle Beach crime rate for motor vehicle theft was 481 per 100,000 people in 2023, compared with a crime rate of 400 per 100,000 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 in Myrtle Beach in 2023 were 28 in comparison to 27 reported cases in 2024. This is a year-on-year decrease of 1.
Myrtle Beach’s crime rate for robbery in 2023 was 69 per 100,000 people. This compares with a crime rate of 67 per 100,000 people in 2024.
Between March 2020 and December 2023, we can see a total of:
9,262
total larcenies in Myrtle Beach
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
2,147
accounted for auto
1,388
accounted for other
2,993
accounted for shoplifting
584
accounted for auto accessories
1,622
accounted from buildings
466
accounted from bicycles
When it comes to burglary during that same three-year period, we can see a total of:
894
cases of burglary in Myrtle Beach
Data sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer
173
happened at residences during the day
121
happened at residences at night
311
happened at non-residences during the day
289
happened at non-residences at night
The impact of being a victim in property crime
The key factor for the lasting trauma caused by property crime is that your home – usually a safe place from outside harm – has been intruded upon. Feeling unsafe after being targeted by burglars is further evidenced in a study by Portsmouth University in the UK. Researchers found that one in 10 victims of burglary move home. Sadly, many residents in Myrtle Beach and South Carolina are victims of property crime, meaning many may be dealing with this long-term psychological impact.
How is property crime affecting people in Myrtle Beach?
02.
How Myrtle Beach Police Department is Working to Prevent Property Crime
Want to know more about Myrtle Beach crime news and general police safety measures to tackle crime in your neighborhood? We’ve grouped some some recent initiatives from the Myrtle Beach Police.
Crime Prevention Unit
Want to know more about what police in Myrtle Beach are doing to fight crime? We’ve grouped some recent initiatives from the police department.
Loitering Program
The Myrtle Beach Police Department works alongside businesses across the city to address concerns around loitering and how it affects public safety. Businesses can apply to join the program and meet with an officer from Myrtle Beach Police Department’s Regulatory Unit. They’ll then survey the property and find ways to deter potential criminals loitering in its vicinity.
Neighborhood Watch Program
There are Neighborhood Watch programs active in over 20 neighborhoods across the city. The Myrtle Beach Police Department is on a mission to keep residents informed about the program and its crime prevention activities. Residents who are interested in establishing a Neighborhood Watch program are requested to call the Crime Prevention Section at 843-918-1806.
Community Ambassadors
Similarly, community ambassadors serve as liaison points for communities across Myrtle Beach’s neighborhoods. They cater to the safety needs of both residents and visitors by engaging in special projects to provide safer environments. They also liaise between the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Mayor’s Office to address matters of public safety and raise concerns where necessary.
03.
How does Myrtle Beach’s crime rate compare to other cities in South Carolina?
To give you an idea of how Myrtle Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | 40,535 | 185 | 1,980 | 162 | 27 |
| Columbia | 144,788 | 718 | 3,426 | 548 | 155 |
| Charleston | 157,665 | 219 | 2,602 | 356 | 68 |
| Greenville | 74,371 | 1,047 | 5,221 | 738 | 140 |
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 Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Police Department
Amy Prock
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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