St. Simons, GA Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
St. Simons Island Crime Overview: What the Data Actually Shows
St. Simons Island earns an overall crime grade of A in 2026 — a distinction that puts it among the safest communities in coastal Georgia. With a population of roughly 15,291 spread across 358 people per square mile, the island's low density and tight-knit character play a measurable role in keeping crime rates well below state and national averages.
Breaking Down the Last 90 Days of Crime Incidents
A close look at the 653 reported incidents over the most recent 90-day period reveals a crime picture that is far less alarming than raw numbers might suggest. The single largest category — "Other" incidents at 66% (431 reports) — encompasses administrative calls, welfare checks, civil disputes, and non-criminal matters that are logged but do not represent traditional crime. Strip those away and the picture sharpens considerably.
- Arrests: 11% (74 incidents) — These reflect enforcement activity, not necessarily new crimes, and indicate an active local policing presence.
- Theft: 10% (64 incidents) — The most common true property crime on the island, consistent with any community that hosts significant tourist traffic near areas like the Pier Village and Mallery Street corridor.
- Assault: 5% (33 incidents) — Relatively low for a community this size; most incidents are minor in nature.
- Vandalism: 5% (32 incidents) — Comparable to assault in frequency, often tied to opportunistic incidents near commercial zones.
- Shooting: 2% (15 incidents) — Worth noting, though this category includes reports and calls that may not result in injuries; the island's A grade reflects the full context of these numbers.
- Burglary: under 1% (3 incidents) — Exceptionally rare, with the most recent recorded on 2026-02-24.
- Robbery: under 1% (1 incident) — A single reported robbery in 90 days underscores how infrequent violent property crime remains here.
Taken together, genuinely serious crimes — robbery, burglary, and shooting combined — account for fewer than 3% of all reported incidents. Theft and vandalism, the most impactful everyday concerns, together represent just 15% of the total.
How St. Simons Compares: Context Behind the A Grade
An A crime grade signals that St. Simons Island sits in the top tier of safety relative to similarly sized U.S. communities. Several socioeconomic factors reinforce this outcome. The island's median household income of $90,408, median home value of $374,229, and an unemployment rate of just 2.5% all correlate strongly with lower crime rates in criminological research. A poverty rate of only 4.1% — well below the national average — further reduces environmental stressors that tend to drive property and violent crime upward.
Where Crime Concentrates on the Island
While St. Simons does not publish granular precinct-level heat maps, incident patterns visible in the crime map data point to a few consistent themes. Theft incidents cluster most heavily around high-foot-traffic commercial and recreational zones — particularly the Pier Village area, the Mallery Street retail corridor, and beach access points that draw seasonal visitors. Vandalism reports show a similar pattern, spiking modestly during peak tourist months.
Residential neighborhoods farther from the commercial core — including areas near Massengale Park, the East Beach community, and quieter streets off Frederica Road — report substantially fewer incidents of any kind. Burglary, in particular, has been nearly absent island-wide, with only 3 incidents logged in the past 90 days.
Safety Tips Grounded in the Real Data
Given that theft accounts for the largest share of genuine criminal incidents at 10%, the most practical precautions align directly with what the numbers show:
- Secure vehicles and valuables — Don't leave items visible in parked cars, especially near beach access points and the Pier Village where foot traffic peaks.
- Be aware in commercial areas after dark — Assault and vandalism incidents, while rare, trend toward evening hours in denser commercial zones.
- Report suspicious activity promptly — The island's low burglary rate (3 incidents in 90 days) is partly a product of active community reporting to the Glynn County Police Department.
- Use the crime map seasonally — Incident volume shifts with tourist seasons; checking the map before summer and holiday periods gives you the most relevant snapshot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: St. Simons Island Crime & Safety 2026
What is St. Simons Island's crime grade in 2026?
St. Simons Island holds an overall crime grade of A in 2026, placing it among the safest communities in coastal Georgia. This grade reflects both the low frequency of serious crimes and favorable socioeconomic conditions — including a median household income of $90,408 and an unemployment rate of just 2.5% — that research consistently links to safer communities.
What types of crime are most common in St. Simons?
Based on the most recent 90-day incident data (653 total reports), theft is the most common genuine crime at 10% of incidents (64 cases), followed by assault at 5% (33 cases) and vandalism at 5% (32 cases). Serious crimes like robbery and burglary are exceptionally rare — combined, they account for just 4 incidents over the entire 90-day window. The largest single category, "Other" at 66%, covers non-criminal calls and administrative matters.
Is St. Simons Island safe for families and retirees?
Yes. St. Simons Island's A crime grade, a poverty rate of only 4.1%, and a near-absence of burglary and robbery make it a strong choice for families and retirees. The island's low population density of 358 people per square mile and strong community cohesion contribute to a residential environment where serious crime is genuinely uncommon. Neighborhoods near Massengale Park and the East Beach area are particularly quiet based on incident mapping patterns.
Which parts of St. Simons Island see the most crime activity?
Incident data consistently points to higher activity — primarily theft and vandalism — in and around the Pier Village and the Mallery Street commercial corridor, where tourist foot traffic is heaviest. Beach access areas also see opportunistic theft. Residential neighborhoods further from the commercial core, including streets off Frederica Road, report significantly fewer incidents of any type.
How does St. Simons Island's crime rate compare to other Georgia communities?
St. Simons Island's A overall crime grade places it well above average for Georgia communities. Its combination of low theft rates, near-zero burglary frequency (3 incidents in 90 days), and a single robbery report over the same period reflects a safety profile more typical of affluent, low-density coastal communities than of Georgia's larger cities. The island's median home value of $374,229 and low unemployment further distinguish it from higher-crime Georgia markets.
Should I be concerned about shootings on St. Simons Island?
Shooting incidents represent 2% of all reports (15 incidents) over the past 90 days. It's important to note that this category in crime reporting includes calls and reports that may not involve injuries or confirmed gunfire. In the context of an A-graded community with 15,291 residents and significant seasonal visitor traffic, this figure does not indicate a pattern of gun violence that should significantly affect quality-of-life decisions about living on or visiting the island.