Special Report

American Cities With the Highest Rate of Larceny Theft

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Of all the most serious crimes tracked by the FBI — known as Part I offenses — larceny is by far the most common. There were 4.6 million cases of larceny-theft reported in the United States in 2020, accounting for nearly 60% of all Part I offenses, which also include murder, assault, robbery, rаpe, vehicle theft, and burglary. 

Larceny is a classification of crime that includes all nonviolent theft, with the exception of motor-vehicle theft. Common examples of larceny include purse snatching, pick pocketing, shoplifting, and bicycle theft. According to the most recent available estimates from the FBI, larceny-thefts result in an estimated $5.9 billion in losses to victims annually. 

Though larceny-theft is relatively widespread in the United States, in some parts of the country, Americans are at especially high risk of being the victim of theft. 

Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the cities with the highest larceny-theft rates. Cities are ranked by the number of larcenies reported for every 100,000 people. Only cities with populations greater than 25,000 were considered

In every city on this list, larceny theft rates are more than double the national rate of 1,398 incidents per 100,000 people. Most of the cities on this list are in the South, including six in South Carolina alone. 

Larceny is one of three criminal offenses that make up the property crime rate. Due in large part to higher than average larceny rates, in every city on this list, the overall property crime rate also far exceeds the national rate of 1,958 incidents per 100,000 people.

Click here to see the cities with the most larceny-thefts
Click here to read our detailed methodology

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50. Council Bluffs, Iowa
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,422.7
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,127 — 223rd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,788.9 — 47th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,976 — 225th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 62,355

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49. Columbia, South Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,442.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 4,536 — 90th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,475.7 — 69th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 5,898 — 94th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 133,273

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48. Lakewood, Colorado
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,493.6
> Total larceny-thefts: 5,580 — 71st most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,040.1 — 34th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 8,050 — 69th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 155,146

47. Springfield, Ohio
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,509.6
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,060 — 231st most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,134.9 — 31st most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,014 — 220th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 59,132

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46. Portsmouth, Virginia
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,517.9
> Total larceny-thefts: 3,314 — 122nd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,540.1 — 63rd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 4,277 — 135th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 95,097

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45. Bellingham, Washington
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,545.9
> Total larceny-thefts: 3,320 — 121st most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,599.0 — 59th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 4,306 — 133rd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 88,764

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44. Paragould, Arkansas
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,547.5
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,039 — 503rd most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,537.7 — 65th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,329 — 533rd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 28,568

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43. Little Rock, Arkansas
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,572.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 7,062 — 61st most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,857.1 — 41st most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 9,602 — 62nd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 197,958

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42. Grand Junction, Colorado
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,582.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,298 — 205th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,623.6 — 57th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,966 — 226th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 62,062

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41. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,582.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 7,854 — 48th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,825.7 — 43rd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 10,580 — 56th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 224,149

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40. Medford, Oregon
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,585.0
> Total larceny-thefts: 3,012 — 135th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,302.8 — 77th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,615 — 171st most of 1,361 cities (tied)
> Population: 81,145

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39. Bossier City, Louisiana
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,589.4
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,472 — 178th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,648.0 — 54th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,201 — 200th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 68,248

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38. Shreveport, Louisiana
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,604.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 6,690 — 64th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,799.3 — 46th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 8,907 — 65th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 192,035

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37. Tacoma, Washington
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,619.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 7,967 — 47th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,507.4 — 22nd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 12,123 — 45th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 212,869

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36. St. Joseph, Missouri
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,630.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,711 — 156th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,146.0 — 29th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,843 — 156th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 75,913

35. Fridley, Minnesota
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,671.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,024 — 516th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,589.1 — 60th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,280 — 552nd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 27,668

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34. Dover, Delaware
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,674.4
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,412 — 364th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,030.9 — 104th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,549 — 461st most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 37,523

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33. Hot Springs, Arkansas
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,679.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,431 — 354th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,852.0 — 14th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,276 — 305th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 38,559

32. Goldsboro, North Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,735.6
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,272 — 406th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,018.9 — 36th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,709 — 416th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 34,647

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31. Monroe, North Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,750.4
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,344 — 386th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,844.3 — 42nd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,736 — 405th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 35,105

30. Cleveland, Tennessee
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,770.1
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,734 — 289th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,026.7 — 35th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,312 — 299th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 44,595

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29. La Crosse, Wisconsin
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,823.4
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,958 — 248th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,366.2 — 74th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,236 — 309th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 51,666

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28. Spokane, Washington
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,877.0
> Total larceny-thefts: 8,666 — 42nd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,151.1 — 28th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 11,514 — 49th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 217,353

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27. St. Louis, Missouri
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,895.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 11,626 — 31st most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,830.3 — 15th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 17,399 — 32nd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 308,174

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26. North Charleston, South Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,971.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 4,667 — 87th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,104.6 — 33rd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 5,998 — 93rd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 111,501

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25. Memphis, Tennessee
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 3,982.6
> Total larceny-thefts: 25,924 — 8th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,560.8 — 20th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 36,197 — 11th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 651,932

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24. Aiken, South Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,024.9
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,248 — 414th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,815.0 — 44th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,493 — 476th most of 1,361 cities (tied)
> Population: 30,671

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23. Englewood, Colorado
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,094.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,452 — 352nd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,667.7 — 19th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,010 — 349th most of 1,361 cities (tied)
> Population: 34,259

22. Florence, Kentucky
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,105.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,371 — 375th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,674.1 — 52nd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,561 — 455th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 32,369

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21. Fayetteville, Arkansas
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,115.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 3,673 — 109th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,166.3 — 26th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 4,611 — 120th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 85,166

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20. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,150.9
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,904 — 261st most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,271.4 — 24th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,418 — 283rd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 46,098

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19. Fort Smith, Arkansas
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,219.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 3,716 — 106th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,530.8 — 21st most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 4,871 — 115th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 87,743

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18. Spartanburg, South Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,256.9
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,595 — 318th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,101.0 — 12th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,286 — 303rd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 37,424

17. Puyallup, Washington
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,321.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,857 — 267th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,929.2 — 13th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,548 — 263rd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 40,991

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16. Monroe, Louisiana
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,333.7
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,042 — 234th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,118.6 — 11th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,883 — 235th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 48,241

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15. Great Falls, Montana
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,344.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,535 — 172nd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,140.1 — 30th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,999 — 221st most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 58,835

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14. Asheville, North Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,407.3
> Total larceny-thefts: 4,142 — 96th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,740.6 — 16th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 5,395 — 102nd most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 91,560

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13. Chattanooga, Tennessee
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,579.0
> Total larceny-thefts: 8,435 — 45th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,356.3 — 9th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 11,709 — 48th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 179,690

12. Douglasville, Georgia
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,591.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,580 — 323rd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,207.9 — 25th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,792 — 391st most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 33,052

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11. LaGrange, Georgia
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,666.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,419 — 360th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,686.4 — 18th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 1,729 — 407th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 30,400

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10. Florence, South Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,694.7
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,812 — 277th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,192.2 — 10th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,390 — 288th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 38,487

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9. Murray, Utah
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,757.1
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,339 — 196th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,652.6 — 6th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,271 — 191st most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 49,105

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8. Miami Beach, Florida
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,767.6
> Total larceny-thefts: 4,244 — 94th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,739.4 — 17th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 5,109 — 111th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 90,108

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7. Joplin, Missouri
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 4,963.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,528 — 174th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,431.7 — 8th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,276 — 190th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 50,386

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6. Alexandria, Louisiana
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 5,001.5
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,300 — 204th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 7,213.1 — 4th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,317 — 186th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 47,012

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5. Springfield, Missouri
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 5,116.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 8,639 — 44th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,951.5 — 5th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 11,738 — 47th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 167,051

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4. Roseville, Minnesota
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 5,227.0
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,917 — 258th most of 1,368 cities (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,462.2 — 7th most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,370 — 291st most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 36,026

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3. Salt Lake City, Utah
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 5,503.8
> Total larceny-thefts: 11,128 — 34th most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 7,352.1 — 3rd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 14,865 — 39th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 197,756

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2. South Salt Lake, Utah
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 6,503.7
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,679 — 301st most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 9,203.6 — the most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 2,376 — 290th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 25,017

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1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
> 2020 larceny-thefts per 100K people: 7,339.2
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,617 — 162nd most of 1,368 cities
> Property crimes per 100K people: 8,716.1 — 2nd most of 1,361 cities
> Total property crimes: 3,108 — 212th most of 1,361 cities
> Population: 32,700

Methodology

To determine the city with the highest larceny-theft rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed larceny-theft figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. 

We included cities that have more than 25,000 people based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis. 

Data for property crime — a category that includes larceny-theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft — also came from the 2020 FBI UCR. Population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. However, these estimates were not used to calculate crime rates. Crime rates per 100,000 people were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 UCR.

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