Crime in Waycross, Georgia

Property crime

The vast majority of crimes in America are property crimes, accounting for 85% of total crimes in 2018. In Waycross, however, property crimes account for about 92% of all offenses.

Property crime is much more prevalent in Waycross than it is nationwide. There were 770 property crimes in Waycross in 2018, or 5,591 for every 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, the national property crime rate is 2,200 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 Waycross. There were 627 larcenies reported in Waycross in 2018, or 4,553 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the larceny rate is 1,595 per 100,000.

Burglary

There were 117 break-ins reported in Waycross in 2018, or 850 for every 100,000 residents. For reference, there were 327 reported burglaries for every 100,000 people nationwide in 2018.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Across the United States, the annual motor vehicle theft rate is 229 for every 100,000 people. In Waycross, meanwhile, there were 26 motor vehicle thefts in 2018, or 189 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 more than 8.4 million offenses reported across the U.S. in 2018. In Waycross, however, violent offenses account for a smaller 8% share of all reported crime.

At 516 incidents for every 100,000 people, the violent crime rate in Waycross is above the national violent crime rate of 381 offenses per 100,000 people. Law enforcement in Waycross reported a total of 71 violent crimes in 2018.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is by far the most common type of violent crime reported in the U.S. It is also the most commonly reported violent offense in Waycross. There were 40 aggravated assaults reported in Waycross in 2018, or 290 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the rate is lower, standing at 247 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.

Robbery

Robbery is the second most common type of violent crime in America. There were 20 robberies reported in Waycross in 2018, a rate of 145 robberies for every 100,000 residents. For comparison, the national robbery rate was 86 per 100,000 in 2018.

Rape

There were 8 rapes reported in Waycross in 2018, or 58 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, there were 139,380 rapes in 2018, a rate of 43 per 100,000 people.

Murder

There were 3 homicides committed in the city in 2018. Adjusted for population, the murder rate in Waycross is 21.8 murders for every 100,000 people, many times higher than the national murder rate of 5 per 100,000 people.