Crime by type
Memphis Crime by Type
The offense categories that define day-to-day risk across Memphis.
Overview
What drives crime in Memphis
Each offense type maps onto Memphis differently. Property crime reaches nearly every corner of the city, while the gravest violence stays anchored to a set of long-troubled neighborhoods. The categories below outline where each tends to concentrate.
By category
Rates and odds by crime type
Estimated annual rate per 100,000 residents and your everyday odds, with risk level relative to the U.S. average.
| Offense | Per 100k/yr | Annual odds | vs. U.S. | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft / Larceny | 3,142 | 1 in 32 | +124% | High |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 669 | 1 in 149 | +110% | High |
| Burglary | 543 | 1 in 184 | +101% | High |
| Aggravated Assault | 511 | 1 in 196 | +91% | Moderate |
| Robbery | 136 | 1 in 737 | +84% | Moderate |
| Rape | 62 | 1 in 1,606 | +85% | Moderate |
| Homicide | 10 | 1 in 10,120 | +98% | Moderate |
Drill down
What's actually reported in Memphis
The most common specific offenses behind each category, from reported incident descriptions.
Assault 24,614 reports
Theft 18,003 reports
Retail Theft 7,061 reports
Vandalism 6,642 reports
Burglary 3,719 reports
Drug Offense 2,381 reports
Detail
Crime types in Memphis, explained
Motor Vehicle Theft
Auto theft is severe in Memphis and has spiked in recent years, fueled heavily by easily targeted Kia and Hyundai models across nearly every part of the city.
Theft / Larceny
Theft, including theft from vehicles, is the highest-volume offense, concentrated around retail corridors, downtown, and apartment-heavy areas.
Burglary
Residential and commercial burglaries fall more often on Frayser, South Memphis, and older central neighborhoods than on the eastern suburbs.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assaults are widespread and heaviest in Frayser, parts of South Memphis, and Orange Mound, which carry much of the city's violent activity.
Robbery
Robberies cluster near commercial strips, convenience stores, and busy corridors, frequently after dark.
Homicide
Homicides drive Memphis's national crime reputation and remain concentrated in a limited number of high-incident neighborhoods rather than spread across the city.