Driven by a surge in homicides and an increase in cases of aggravated assault, the U.S. violent crime rate rose in 2020, according to data from the FBI. One bright spot in the latest data, however, was a year-over-year decline in reported robberies. In a continuation of a multi-decade trend, the number of robberies committed in the U.S. fell by 9%, from about 268,500 in 2019 to 243,600 in 2020.
According to the FBI, robbery is a crime in which force or the threat of force or violence is used to take, or attempt to take, anything of value from another person. The largest share of robberies in the United States are committed on streets or sidewalks. Handguns are the most commonly used weapon in robberies, and more often than not, among the cases where a suspect can be identified, the offender and victim are strangers to one another.
In keeping with the national trend, most states reported a decline in robberies in 2020. There were exceptions, however, and just over a dozen states reported rising robbery rates.
Using data from the FBI, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the robbery rate is rising fastest. States are ranked by the year-over-year change in the number of robberies per 100,000 people. Depending on the state, the changes range from a decline of 34 robberies per 100,000 people to an uptick of 13 per 100,000. For context, the U.S. robbery rate fell by 8 incidents per 100,000 in 2020.
Notably, in all but one of the 13 states to report rising robbery rates, the overall robbery rate remains below the national rate of 74 incidents per 100,000 people. Here is a look at the states with the highest robbery rates.
Robbery – along with rаpe, aggravated assault, and homicide – is one component of the overall violent crime category. Even though robbery accounts for only a small percentage of all violent crimes, nearly every state that reported an increase in robbery also reported an increase in violent crime overall in 2020. Here is a look at the states where crime is soaring.
Click here for the states where robbery is on the rise
Click here for our detailed methodology
50. Maryland
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -33.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 7,174 (9th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 118.5 (the highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -54.5 (the lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 399.9 (23rd highest)
> Population: 6,045,680
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49. Alabama
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -25.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,666 (25th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 54.2 (24th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -51.1 (2nd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 453.6 (14th highest)
> Population: 4,903,185
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48. California
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -19.0
> Robberies reported in 2020: 44,728 (the highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 113.6 (2nd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -0.0 (17th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 442.0 (16th highest)
> Population: 39,512,223
47. New Mexico
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -18.9
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,086 (21st lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 99.0 (3rd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -45.8 (3rd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 778.3 (2nd highest)
> Population: 2,096,829
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46. Nevada
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -17.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,785 (25th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 88.7 (8th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -35.8 (4th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 460.3 (12th highest)
> Population: 3,080,156
45. Indiana
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -16.9
> Robberies reported in 2020: 4,215 (17th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 62.4 (21st highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -13.8 (8th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 357.7 (24th lowest)
> Population: 6,732,219
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44. Alaska
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -15.2
> Robberies reported in 2020: 712 (12th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 97.4 (5th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -27.2 (6th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 837.8 (the highest)
> Population: 731,545
43. New Jersey
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -15.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 4,384 (16th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 49.4 (19th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -11.4 (10th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 195.4 (5th lowest)
> Population: 8,882,190
42. Hawaii
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -14.6
> Robberies reported in 2020: 867 (14th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 61.6 (23rd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -10.4 (11th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 254.2 (10th lowest)
> Population: 1,415,872
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41. Florida
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -13.3
> Robberies reported in 2020: 13,521 (4th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 62.2 (22nd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +5.4 (19th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 383.6 (25th highest)
> Population: 21,477,737
40. Delaware
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -9.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 700 (11th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 70.9 (14th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +9.2 (21st lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 431.9 (17th highest)
> Population: 973,764
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39. Tennessee
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -9.3
> Robberies reported in 2020: 5,575 (12th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 81.0 (11th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +73.8 (6th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 672.7 (3rd highest)
> Population: 6,829,174
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38. Texas
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -9.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 26,834 (2nd highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 91.4 (6th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +24.7 (20th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 446.5 (15th highest)
> Population: 28,995,881
37. Michigan
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -9.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 4,438 (15th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 44.5 (17th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +39.4 (11th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 478.0 (10th highest)
> Population: 9,986,857
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36. Massachusetts
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -8.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 3,015 (23rd highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 43.7 (16th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -19.9 (7th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 308.8 (19th lowest)
> Population: 6,892,503
35. Ohio
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -8.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 7,826 (7th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 66.9 (19th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +12.8 (24th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 308.8 (18th lowest)
> Population: 11,689,100
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34. Rhode Island
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -8.0
> Robberies reported in 2020: 336 (9th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 31.8 (11th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +8.1 (20th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 230.8 (7th lowest)
> Population: 1,059,361
33. Louisiana
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -8.0
> Robberies reported in 2020: 3,747 (20th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 80.7 (12th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +79.7 (4th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 639.4 (5th highest)
> Population: 4,648,794
32. Kansas
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -7.9
> Robberies reported in 2020: 928 (15th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 31.8 (12th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +19.5 (24th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 425.0 (19th highest)
> Population: 2,913,314
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31. Missouri
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -7.0
> Robberies reported in 2020: 4,575 (14th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 74.4 (13th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +43.1 (8th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 542.7 (6th highest)
> Population: 6,137,428
30. Virginia
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -6.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,947 (24th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 34.3 (13th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -0.7 (16th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 208.7 (6th lowest)
> Population: 8,535,519
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29. Mississippi
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -6.6
> Robberies reported in 2020: 1,419 (18th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 47.8 (18th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +30.0 (16th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 291.2 (14th lowest)
> Population: 2,976,149
28. Georgia
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -4.9
> Robberies reported in 2020: 7,016 (10th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 65.5 (20th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +73.9 (5th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 400.1 (22nd highest)
> Population: 10,617,423
27. South Carolina
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -4.6
> Robberies reported in 2020: 3,122 (21st highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 59.8 (24th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +20.6 (23rd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 530.7 (7th highest)
> Population: 5,148,714
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26. North Dakota
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -4.4
> Robberies reported in 2020: 151 (3rd lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 19.7 (5th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +27.6 (18th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 329.0 (21st lowest)
> Population: 762,062
25. North Carolina
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -4.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 7,340 (8th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 69.2 (15th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +40.6 (9th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 419.3 (21st highest)
> Population: 10,488,084
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24. Oregon
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -3.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,180 (22nd lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 51.4 (20th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -1.8 (15th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 291.9 (15th lowest)
> Population: 4,217,737
23. New Hampshire
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -3.5
> Robberies reported in 2020: 280 (8th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 20.5 (6th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -11.8 (9th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 146.4 (2nd lowest)
> Population: 1,359,711
22. Washington
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -3.0
> Robberies reported in 2020: 5,183 (13th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 67.4 (18th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -9.6 (12th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 293.7 (16th lowest)
> Population: 7,614,893
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21. Arizona
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -2.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 6,211 (11th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 83.7 (10th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +37.7 (14th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 484.8 (9th highest)
> Population: 7,278,717
20. New York
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -2.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 17,525 (3rd highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 90.6 (7th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +2.8 (18th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 363.8 (25th lowest)
> Population: 19,453,561
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19. Illinois
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -2.5
> Robberies reported in 2020: 12,261 (5th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 97.4 (4th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +10.7 (23rd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 425.9 (18th highest)
> Population: 12,671,821
18. Maine
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -1.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 170 (4th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 12.6 (4th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -7.5 (13th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 108.6 (the lowest)
> Population: 1,344,212
17. Vermont
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -1.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 64 (the lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 10.3 (2nd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -33.8 (5th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 173.4 (3rd lowest)
> Population: 623,989
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16. Oklahoma
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -1.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,351 (23rd lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 59.1 (25th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +22.3 (22nd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 458.6 (13th highest)
> Population: 3,956,971
15. Wyoming
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -0.2
> Robberies reported in 2020: 66 (2nd lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 11.3 (3rd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +19.3 (25th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 234.2 (8th lowest)
> Population: 578,759
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14. Arkansas
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: -0.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 1,577 (19th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 52.0 (21st lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +91.1 (2nd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 671.9 (4th highest)
> Population: 3,017,804
13. Nebraska
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +0.1
> Robberies reported in 2020: 799 (13th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 41.2 (14th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +29.5 (17th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 334.1 (22nd lowest)
> Population: 1,934,408
12. Idaho
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +0.5
> Robberies reported in 2020: 174 (5th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 9.5 (the lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +10.0 (22nd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 242.6 (9th lowest)
> Population: 1,787,065
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11. Iowa
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +0.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 943 (16th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 29.8 (9th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +15.9 (25th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 303.5 (17th lowest)
> Population: 3,155,070
10. West Virginia
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +1.3
> Robberies reported in 2020: 369 (10th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 20.7 (7th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +37.0 (15th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 355.9 (23rd lowest)
> Population: 1,792,147
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9. Wisconsin
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +1.4
> Robberies reported in 2020: 3,081 (22nd highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 52.8 (22nd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +26.3 (19th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 323.4 (20th lowest)
> Population: 5,822,434
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8. Connecticut
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +2.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,033 (20th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 57.2 (25th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: -3.0 (14th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 181.6 (4th lowest)
> Population: 3,565,287
7. Colorado
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +3.7
> Robberies reported in 2020: 3,964 (18th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 68.3 (17th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +38.4 (12th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 423.1 (20th highest)
> Population: 5,758,736
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6. Kentucky
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +4.6
> Robberies reported in 2020: 2,369 (24th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 52.9 (23rd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +38.4 (13th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 259.1 (11th lowest)
> Population: 4,467,673
5. Montana
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +6.3
> Robberies reported in 2020: 279 (7th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 25.8 (8th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +51.9 (7th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 469.8 (11th highest)
> Population: 1,068,778
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4. Utah
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +6.6
> Robberies reported in 2020: 1,362 (17th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 41.9 (15th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +23.8 (21st highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 260.7 (12th lowest)
> Population: 3,205,958
3. Pennsylvania
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +7.8
> Robberies reported in 2020: 10,728 (6th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 83.9 (9th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +83.6 (3rd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 389.5 (24th highest)
> Population: 12,801,989
2. South Dakota
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +9.3
> Robberies reported in 2020: 274 (6th lowest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 30.7 (10th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +104.3 (the highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 501.4 (8th highest)
> Population: 884,659
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1. Minnesota
> 1-yr. change in reported robberies per 100K: +12.6
> Robberies reported in 2020: 3,877 (19th highest)
> Robberies per 100K people in 2020: 68.5 (16th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime per 100k people: +40.0 (10th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 277.5 (13th lowest)
> Population: 5,639,632
Methodology
To determine the states where the robbery rate is soaring, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the change in the robbery rate per 100,000 people from the FBI’s 2019 and 2020 Uniform Crime Reports.
Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis. Because some state and local agencies changed reporting practices between 2019 and 2020, the figures are not comparable, and these areas were excluded.
Population figures are one-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 and 2019 UCR.
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