Myrtle Beach is a beautiful town on the coast of South Carolina. Unfortunately, it has recently been in the news for negative reasons. This charming city is in a worrying position, even though it has beautiful beaches, a lively culture, and friendly people. A new report shows that Myrtle Beach is now ranked as the third most dangerous city in the state.
The numbers are always accurate and truthful
Let’s explore the data. Myrtle Beach has around 38,253 residents. It is ranked in the 15th percentile for safety, which means that only 15% of cities are more dangerous. But what specifically causes this concerning statistic?
Crime Rate: On average, there are 51.08 crimes per 1,000 residents in Myrtle Beach. However, this number can be very different depending on the specific neighborhood. In the eastern parts of the city, there is a higher chance of becoming a victim of crime, with a likelihood of 1 in 7. However, in the southwest, the chance decreases to 1 in 43.
Property Crimes: Myrtle Beach also has a lot of property crimes. Residents have a 1 in 82 chance of experiencing theft, burglary, or other property-related crimes.
What are the most common types of crime in Myrtle Beach?
The most frequent types of crime in Myrtle Beach are:
Property crime is a very common type of offense in Myrtle Beach. It makes up about 90% of all offenses. This category includes crimes such as theft, breaking into buildings, and stealing cars. Theft is the most common type of property crime in the city.
Larceny is the most common type of property crime in Myrtle Beach. In 2019, there were 3,384 reported thefts in the city, which means there were 9,707 incidents for every 100,000 people.
Burglary is a serious property crime in Myrtle Beach. In 2019, there were 304 reported break-ins, which means there were 872 incidents for every 100,000 residents.
Motor Vehicle Theft: In Myrtle Beach, there were 228 reported incidents of motor vehicle theft in 2019. This means there were 654 thefts for every 100,000 people.
Violent Crime: Although violent crime makes up a smaller portion of all reported crimes in Myrtle Beach, it is still a significant issue. In 2019, the city had a total of 415 violent crimes. The most common type of violent crime was aggravated assault, followed by robbery, rape, and murder.
The crime statistics show that property crimes, like theft, burglary, and car theft, are common in Myrtle Beach. This emphasizes the importance of ongoing efforts to address these issues and improve safety in the community.
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What are the main reasons for the high crime rate in Myrtle Beach?
The main reasons for the high crime rate in Myrtle Beach are:
Myrtle Beach has a lot of visitors who come and go. The number of tourists each year is over 19 million, which makes the population increase a lot. The fact that people come and go frequently, along with a smaller population throughout the year, can make crime statistics misleading and result in a higher crime rate.
- Location and Tourism: Myrtle Beach is a popular place for tourists to visit. It gets a lot of visitors, especially on busy weekends like Memorial Day, with up to 500,000 people coming. The increase in people visiting, combined with the fact that tourism is more popular during certain times of the year, can lead to more crime happening, especially in places like beach parking lots.
- Drug-related crimes: The city has had problems with drug trade, gang activity, and incidents that target tourists. Drug-related crimes, assaults, and robberies, which are often connected to ongoing drug sales, have played a major role in the crime rate in Myrtle Beach.
- Historical Crime Rates: Myrtle Beach has had relatively high crime rates in the past, despite efforts to reduce crime. Recent statistics show that violent and property crime rates have gone down because of stronger policing methods and partnerships with the community.
- Community Safety Measures: The city has taken steps to prevent crime, such as using special police teams, increasing patrols with electric cars, bicycles, and Segways, and promoting crime prevention strategies like reporting suspicious activities and locking vehicles.
These factors together make people think that Myrtle Beach has a lot of crime. This shows that it’s important to keep working on safety and making the community more secure.
Where are the most common places for crime to happen in Myrtle Beach?
The places where crime happens most often in Myrtle Beach are:
- Beach Parking Lots: Because many tourists and visitors come to the beach, there is a higher chance of crimes like theft, vandalism, and vehicle break-ins happening in the parking lots. The population in these areas changes frequently, which can make them more susceptible to criminal activities.
- Tourism-Heavy Areas: Places that attract a lot of tourists, like the boardwalk and oceanfront districts, are also common spots for crime in Myrtle Beach. These popular tourist spots can have incidents like assaults, thefts, and disturbances.
- Downtown Myrtle Beach, especially when there are a lot of tourists, can have more crime. In this area, there are a variety of people including residents, visitors, and businesses. Unfortunately, this mix of people can lead to crimes such as theft, assaults, and property crimes.
- Residential Neighborhoods: Although crime rates have gone down in Myrtle Beach, there is still a risk of property crimes such as burglaries and thefts in residential areas. Residents must stay alert and take necessary steps to keep their homes and belongings safe.
Residents and authorities in Myrtle Beach can reduce crime by knowing where it commonly happens. This way, they can focus on making those areas safer and using specific strategies to prevent criminal activities.
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