Highland Springs, VA Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Highland Springs Crime Overview: What the Data Shows
Highland Springs, VA carries an overall crime grade of D- for 2026, a rating that reflects meaningful public safety challenges in this Henrico County community of roughly 15,000 residents. With a poverty rate of 16%, an unemployment rate of 5.2%, and a median household income of $47,404, the socioeconomic pressures that often correlate with elevated crime are present here. Understanding what the numbers actually mean — broken down by incident type — gives residents and prospective movers a far clearer picture than a single letter grade alone.
Recent Incident Breakdown: 919 Crimes in 90 Days
Over the last 90 days, Highland Springs recorded 919 total reported incidents, averaging roughly 10 incidents per day across the community. Here is how those incidents break down by category:
- Other offenses: 475 incidents (52%) — This is the single largest category and includes a wide range of calls such as disturbances, suspicious activity, and miscellaneous police responses. The breadth of this category suggests active police engagement across the community.
- Theft: 161 incidents (18%) — Theft is the most clearly defined high-frequency crime, accounting for nearly one in five reported incidents. Shoplifting, vehicle break-ins, and larceny tend to drive this number in suburban communities like Highland Springs.
- Arrests: 113 incidents (12%) — Over a hundred arrests in 90 days reflects active law enforcement activity. This figure can indicate both crime volume and police responsiveness.
- Assault: 98 incidents (11%) — Assault incidents are a notable concern, representing 11% of all reports. At nearly one assault per day on average, this is an area where residents should exercise situational awareness, particularly in the evening hours.
- Shootings: 41 incidents (4%) — Firearm-related incidents are disproportionately impactful on community safety perception and resident well-being. Forty-one shootings in a 90-day window — roughly one every two days — is a serious metric for a community of 15,000.
- Burglary: 21 incidents (2%) — Residential and commercial burglaries, while representing a smaller share of total incidents, carry significant personal impact. The most recent burglary was reported on March 9, 2026.
- Vandalism: 10 incidents (1%) — Vandalism is the least frequent tracked category, though it can signal broader neighborhood disorder in concentrated areas.
What the D- Grade Means for Highland Springs
A D- overall crime grade places Highland Springs among the higher-risk communities in Virginia when adjusted for its population size and density of 726 residents per square mile. This grade reflects the combined weight of violent crime (assaults and shootings together account for 15% of all incidents) alongside persistent property crime (theft and burglary combine for 20%). For context, the assault and shooting rates are particularly elevated relative to what you would expect in a suburban community at this population density.
The median home value of $148,704 and median rent of $1,101 make Highland Springs one of the more affordable communities in the Richmond metro area, and that affordability attracts residents who may have fewer resources to invest in private security measures — making community-level safety infrastructure all the more important.
Using the Highland Springs Crime Map Effectively
The interactive crime map for Highland Springs allows you to filter incidents by type, date range, and geographic area. Given that theft (18%) and assault (11%) are the two most actionable categories for daily safety planning, residents are encouraged to:
- Filter by Theft to identify commercial corridors and parking areas with repeat incidents — useful for deciding where and when to run errands.
- Filter by Assault and Shooting to understand which blocks or intersections see the highest concentration of violent activity, particularly after dark.
- Use the 90-day view to see current patterns rather than relying on annual averages, which can mask recent shifts in activity.
- Check the Burglary layer before traveling or leaving your home unattended for extended periods.
Community Safety Resources
The Henrico County Police Department South Division serves Highland Springs and publishes crime data through official channels. Residents can report non-emergency concerns by contacting the department's non-emergency line. Neighborhood watch participation, securing entry points, and maintaining communication with neighbors remain the most consistently effective personal safety strategies — particularly given the volume of theft and assault incidents recorded in recent months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Highland Springs, VA Crime
Is Highland Springs, VA safe in 2026?
Highland Springs receives an overall crime grade of D- for 2026, which indicates that safety is a genuine concern for residents. With 919 incidents reported in just the last 90 days — including 98 assaults and 41 shootings — the community faces elevated violent crime relative to its size of 15,000 people. That said, the majority of incidents (52%) fall into the broad "other" category, which includes non-violent disturbances and police responses. Theft (18%) is the most common clearly-defined crime type. Residents who stay informed through the crime map, maintain awareness of their surroundings, and participate in community watch programs can meaningfully reduce their personal risk.
What types of crime are most common in Highland Springs?
Based on the most recent 90-day incident data, theft is the most common specific crime in Highland Springs, representing 18% of all 919 reported incidents (161 cases). Assault is the second most prevalent at 11% (98 incidents), followed by arrests at 12% (113), which reflects active law enforcement engagement. Shootings, while representing only 4% of incidents (41 cases), are a significant concern given the community's population size — averaging roughly one firearm-related incident every two days. Burglary (2%, 21 cases) and vandalism (1%, 10 cases) round out the tracked categories.
What is the crime grade for Highland Springs, VA?
Highland Springs earns an overall crime grade of D- for 2026. This grade reflects both the volume and severity of incidents recorded in the community, with particular weight given to violent crime categories like assault and shootings. A D- grade means that Highland Springs has notably higher crime rates than the average Virginia community of comparable size. Prospective residents and current homeowners should factor this grade into decisions about home security investments, renters insurance, and daily routines.
How does Highland Springs compare to other Richmond-area communities?
Highland Springs's D- crime grade places it below many Richmond-area suburbs in terms of public safety metrics. With a median household income of $47,404 and a poverty rate of 16%, Highland Springs faces socioeconomic pressures that tend to correlate with higher crime rates. Its population density of 726 people per square mile is moderate, meaning crime is not as concentrated as in dense urban cores, but incidents are spread across residential areas. Communities with stronger median incomes and lower poverty rates in the broader Henrico County area generally receive higher crime grades.
Is Highland Springs a good place to live despite the crime rate?
Highland Springs offers real advantages: a median home value of just $148,704 and median rent of $1,101 make it one of the more accessible communities in the Richmond metro area. Access to parks, local schools, and proximity to Richmond's employment centers add to its appeal. However, the D- crime grade and the recent pace of incidents — particularly 98 assaults and 41 shootings in 90 days — mean that safety must be a central consideration. Families and individuals who prioritize affordability and are willing to invest in home security and community engagement can find value here, but should go in with clear eyes about the current crime environment.
What can residents do to improve safety in Highland Springs?
Given that theft accounts for 18% and assault for 11% of recent incidents, practical steps include securing vehicles and homes against opportunistic theft, installing exterior lighting, and using the Highland Springs crime map to stay current on activity in your immediate area. Joining or forming a neighborhood watch group is especially effective in communities with active patrol programs. Reporting suspicious activity to the Henrico County Police South Division through the non-emergency line helps build the incident record that informs resource deployment. Community cohesion — knowing your neighbors and maintaining communication — remains one of the most evidence-backed deterrents to both property and violent crime.