This summer, a lot of people from California will be going to the beaches to beat the heat. Thieves will follow, trying to take advantage of swimmers, surfers, and people just lying in the sun.
A new study from the sports betting information and analytics company The Action Network crunched the numbers to find the beaches across the country where theft is most likely to happen. With three of the top ten being in California, the Golden State is the most dangerous place for crime along the coast. Seven beaches in California made the list of the top 20.
“Opportunistic thieves may also be drawn to crowded beaches,” the writers wrote. “Phones, wallets, and bags left unattended while people swim or take a walk are frequent targets, particularly in areas with higher rates of property crime.”
The study looked at how often theft, robbery, burglary, and car breaks happened at more than 500 sites in the United States.
“Using this data, our odds experts developed a weighted scoring model to calculate the implied probability of theft-related incidents for each beach area, giving travelers a clearer picture of where to stay alert and take precautions,” the study said.
Which California beaches are the most prone to theft?
- A rate of 59.87 thefts per 1,000 people was found at Santa Monica State Beach in Los Angeles County, which was the highest in the state. The only beach in the U.S. that was safer was Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach in North Carolina.
- The Action Network found that Baker Beach in San Francisco was the second most likely beach in the state and the sixth most likely beach in the country for theft. It was found that 48.54 thefts happened for every 1,000 people.
- With 49.01 thefts per 1,000 people, Gualala Point Regional Park in Mendocino County was third in California and ninth in the U.S. for theft.
| Rank | Beach & State | Theft Rate | Robbery Rate | Vehicle Theft Rate | Burglary Rate | Implied probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, NC | 59.87 | 3.54 | 1.69 | 25.58 | 27.91% |
| 2 | Santa Monica State Beach, CA | 55.22 | 2.48 | 8.91 | 6.73 | 25.29% |
| 3 | Folly Beach Public Beach, SC | 54.82 | 1.67 | 2.58 | 9.20 | 23.87% |
| 3 | Folly Beach County Park, SC | 54.82 | 1.67 | 2.58 | 9.20 | 23.87% |
| 5 | North Jetty, WA | 51.68 | 1.56 | 4.97 | 9.27 | 23.06% |
| 6 | Baker Beach, CA | 48.54 | 2.27 | 6.31 | 10.49 | 22.41% |
| 7 | Currituck Beach, NC | 48.62 | 3.29 | 1.41 | 15.27 | 22.24% |
| 7 | Carova Beach, NC | 48.62 | 3.29 | 1.41 | 15.27 | 22.24% |
| 9 | Gualala Point Regional Park, CA | 49.01 | 2.96 | 4.00 | 6.88 | 21.98% |
| 10 | Ho’okipa Beach Park, HI | 48.81 | 0.48 | 4.18 | 4.46 | 20.95% |
| 10 | Baby Beach, HI | 48.81 | 0.48 | 4.18 | 4.46 | 20.95% |
| 10 | HA Baldwin Beach Park, HI | 48.81 | 0.48 | 4.18 | 4.46 | 20.95% |
Note: All rates in the table — including Theft Rate, Robbery Rate, Vehicle Theft Rate, and Burglary Rate — are calculated per 1,000 residents.
