South Carolina 2020: Rise of Larceny

In 2020, South Carolina witnessed a notable surge in larceny cases, which made up a significant portion of the state’s reported crimes. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the Palmetto State’s law enforcement agencies documented 45,111 larceny cases, accounting for nearly 43% of all reported crimes.

While the national crime landscape was marked by a 4% decline in violent crimes, South Carolina’s crime rates told a different story. In 2020, the state struggled with a 2.5% increase in violent crimes, bucking the national trend. This uptick in violent crimes was largely driven by an 8% rise in aggravated assaults, as reported by the FBI UCR program.

As the United States continued to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, crime trends began to shift in response to the new reality. In South Carolina, law enforcement agencies reported a 3.5% increase in burglary cases, as individuals spent more time at home and targeted properties remained unattended. The pandemic also led to a surge in motor vehicle thefts, with the FBI UCR program noting a 5% increase statewide.

The FBI UCR program collected data from law enforcement agencies across the country, providing a comprehensive look at crime trends in the United States. In 2020, motor vehicle thefts rose by 4.4% nationally, while burglaries declined by 4.4%. The national trend of declining violent crimes, however, was not mirrored in South Carolina, where the state’s crime rates remained stubbornly high.

As the nation looked to 2021 with a mix of hope and trepidation, South Carolina’s law enforcement agencies continued to grapple with the challenges posed by the pandemic. The state’s crime landscape, marked by a rise in larceny cases and an uptick in violent crimes, served as a stark reminder of the complexities and uncertainties of the era.