The Action Network released a ranking of the US beach areas with the highest theft risk on Monday, Aug. 10. The sports gambling media outlet analyzed property crime data surrounding more than 500 beaches nationwide.
The study looked at four crimes based on ZIP code-level data from CrimeGrade.org. Theft received the largest weight at 40%, followed by robbery at 30%, vehicle theft at 20%, and burglary at 10%.
Researchers also adjusted for tourism by using an "effective daily population" that combined resident population with estimated visitor volume. Visitor estimates were based on tourism reports, park entry counts, and TripAdvisor review density.
North Jetty in Ocean Shores, Washington, was ranked the nation's most theft-prone beach. The strand about three hours west of Seattle had an implied theft risk of 4.81%.
Folly Beach, located just south of Charleston, South Carolina, came in second at 4.58%, followed by Newport Beach, California, at 4.15%. No Northeast beaches finished inside the top 10.
Here are the 10 US beach areas with the highest implied theft risk, according to The Action Network:
- North Jetty (Ocean Shores, WA) - 4.81%
- Folly Beach, SC - 4.58%
- Newport Beach, CA - 4.15%
- Laupahoehoe Beach Park, HI - 3.95%
- Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area (Otter Rock, OR) - 3.89%
- Santa Monica, CA - 3.89%
- Grand Lake Beach, CO - 3.55%
- Van Damme State Park, CA - 3.46%
- Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur, CA) - 3.42%
- Roads End and Taft Bay (Lincoln City, OR) - 3.40%
These are the 10 beach areas in the Northeast with the highest implied theft risk:
- 1. Provincetown, MA - 3.2%
- 2. Yorktown, VA - 1.67%
- 3. Plattsburgh, NY - 1.02%
- 4. Bethany Beach, DE - 0.86%
- 5. Buckroe Beach (Hampton, VA) - 0.57%
- 6. Cupsogue Beach (Brookhaven, NY) - 0.39%
- T-7. Grommet Island Park (Virginia Beach, VA) - 0.34%
- T-7. Rockaway Beach (Queens, NY) - 0.34%
- 9. Ocean City, MD - 0.29%
- 10. Cape Charles, VA - 0.25%
The Action Network said the rankings don't mean the beaches are unsafe or should be avoided.
"It does suggest that taking a few extra precautions, such as locking vehicles, keeping valuables out of sight, and avoiding leaving belongings unattended, is especially worthwhile," Action Network data analyst Gautham Marthandan wrote.
The study also found the 10 beach areas with the lowest theft dangers:
- 1. New Smyrna Beach, FL
- 2. Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
- 3. Sanibel Island, FL
- T-4. Key West, FL
- T-4. Siesta Key, FL
- T-4. Oceanfront (Virginia Beach, VA)
- T-4. Kailua, HI
- 8. Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches, DE
- 9. Hilton Head Island, SC
- 10. Waikiki Beach, HI
More than 92% of recorded incidents near the beaches studied were nonviolent thefts, according to The Action Network. Violent crime rates were below 0.5 per 1,000 visitors in more than 80% of the ZIP codes analyzed.
You can click here to see the full Action Network study.
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