Crime in Charles Town, West Virginia

Property crime

The vast majority of crimes in America are property crimes, accounting for 85% of total crimes in 2019. In Charles Town, however, property crimes account for about 89% of all offenses.

Despite accounting for a higher than average share of total offenses, property crime is less prevalent in Charles Town than it is nationwide. There were 75 property crimes in Charles Town in 2019, or 1,215 for every 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, the national property crime rate is 2,110 incidents per 100,000 people.

Larceny

Larceny is by far the most common type of property crime in the U.S. It is also the most commonly committed type of property crime in Charles Town. There were 43 larcenies reported in Charles Town in 2019, or 697 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the larceny rate is 1,550 per 100,000.

Burglary

There were 30 break-ins reported in Charles Town in 2019, or 486 for every 100,000 residents. For reference, there were 341 reported burglaries for every 100,000 people nationwide in 2019.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Across the United States, the annual motor vehicle theft rate is 220 for every 100,000 people. In Charles Town, meanwhile, there were 2 motor vehicle thefts in 2019, or 32 for every 100,000 people.

Violent crime

Violent crime accounts for a relatively small share of crimes nationwide. These offenses, which are generally more egregious than property crimes, account for about 15% of the nearly 8.2 million offenses reported across the U.S. in 2019. In Charles Town, however, violent offenses account for a smaller 11% share of all reported crime.

At 146 incidents for every 100,000 people, the violent crime rate in Charles Town is well below the national violent crime rate of 379 offenses per 100,000 people. Law enforcement in Charles Town reported a total of 9 violent crimes in 2019.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is by far the most common type of violent crime reported in the U.S. In Charles Town, however, robbery is the most commonly reported type of violent crime. There were 3 aggravated assaults reported in Charles Town in 2019, or 49 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the rate is far higher, standing at 250 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.

Robbery

Robbery is the second most common type of violent crime in America. There were 4 robberies reported in Charles Town in 2019, a rate of 65 robberies for every 100,000 residents. For comparison, the national robbery rate was 82 per 100,000 in 2019.

Rape

There was one rape reported in Charles Town in 2019, or 16 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, there were 139,815 rapes in 2019, a rate of 43 per 100,000 people.

Murder

There was one homicide reported in the city in 2019. Adjusted for population, the murder rate in Charles Town is 16.2 for every 100,000 people, more than triple the national murder rate of 5 per 100,000 people.