The crimes in Horry County were the most important concern for the locals.
Crimes commit not only crime, but also the courage of suspects committed by crimes.
In recent months, law enforcement has faced many high -ranking crimes in Horry County, including shooting at a small river boat party, shooting suspects to police through rapid persecution and three shootings – Two that were fatal – North Ocean Boulevard on Myrtle Beach.
Data shows that in certain areas of the Horry County there is a higher number of crimes than other areas. But in reality, no area was protected from criminal activities.
Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardt said this year is one of the busiest number of police incidents.
Most of it takes place near the permanent population along the coast, when gang activities are growing near Aynor and Longs inland cities, Leonhardt said.
However, the independent organization of crime statistics shows that most violent crimes take place in the county, as well as in the Carolina Forest area.
The Carolina Forest in Myrtle’s beach area has noticed a huge population growth in demanding to build additional schools, expansion roads and emergency services to build additional fire stations and add more police units to keep up with the crime and growth influx.
Horry County Police add the fifth police district in the Karolina Forest District, which will be implemented in August, and a new gang police department, which is already present.
June During the public security meeting, Leonhardt emphasized many calls for service and received more than 16,000 in May. According to the agenda of the Public Security Committee meeting, this includes 337 calls for violent crimes.
Calls for services occur when an emergency person is asked to respond to an emergency, such as 911 call or passerby directive.
At the same time, the police received more than 17,000 calls to the service last year. But Horry County Police also had no fatal or violent incidents as they have this year, the chief said.
Where is the biggest crime?
Tourism territories dominate and call for Horry County, police data show.
The southern area includes Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and SoCastee, which since 2023 By 2025 May Almost always received the most invitations to serve in four territories of the Horry County Police. Leonhardt said lunch is the busiest because most of the permanent population live there.
However, a more detailed map of crime is indicated that most of the violent crime incidents per capita, Horry’s county, occurs in tourist destinations with less population, not Socastee or other places of residence.
Crime Counties across the country, based on machine learning projection from previous reported data. At the end of each projection, it provides a grade. Myrtle Beach earned D+ for the total degree of crime.
The crime class map shows that in Myrtle Beach, in Myrtle Heights, there were more crimes near the 21st and 22nd Aveni to the North to the Springmaid Beach and even the Market General District. There are popular tourist destinations such as the North Ocean Boulevard.
However, the degree of crime noted that this area could partially show significant crimes due to several permanent residents of the district.
“Areas where visitors’ flow, such as trading areas, may seem greater crime simply because more crimes occur when people gather – even if there are few residents,” says Crime Grade’s interpretation of the website. “There are more retail institutions in the southern part of the county that can artificially inflate violent crime in the field.”
This is the same explanation offered by Myrtle Beach city officials and police chief Amy Prock, who said that many recent violent crimes in the city have committed people who are not from Horry County.
Fatal Mass shooting in April. He was an officer of the Myrtle Beach Police, 900 in the North Ocean Boulevard Quarter and began after the Marlboro County teenager allegedly fired his weapon into the crowd along the busy sidewalk city center.
According to the degree of crime, the Marlboro County, which contains Bennettsville, where the gunman lived, was given F for the crime and the city was shown with a high level of crime.
Other high -violent crime territory Horry has a Carolina forest and the surroundings along SC 9 between Loris and Longs, where Horry County Police said the gang’s activities were high.
The latest data showed that South Preicect had more than 6,000 calls for service in May.
The North District, which has a long -term, Little River and North Myrtle Beach, is the fastest growing county in the county and where the new county gang unit focuses most of their efforts, Leonhardt said.
It received more than 4,700 calls in May.
Leonhardt said the Horry County is not necessarily more dangerous, but residents see more crimes of the department’s efforts and media.
“So to speak, we see a bigger crime,” Leonhardt said. “We have always had crime problems. I think we work better to get this information to our society, so we are clear to show what’s going on in your community. So I think it’s great.”
Local residents also make crime
According to previous reports, Myrtle Beach will continue to be reported as one of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina. This is something the city officials constantly denied.
Police Agency Horry County reported 19 murders, according to a latest report from South Carolina’s Law Enforcement Department in 2023. This number is higher than that of almost all other police agencies in a state, although the level of murders per capita is lower than other counties, such Marlboro, Florence and Marion County, the report said.
Leonhardt said that despite the skepticism that most crimes arise from people from the Myrtle Beach area, it is more difficult than raising the most fault for non -residents. He said many permanent residents also commit crime in Horry County.
According to Myrtle Beach, more than 17 million people visit the Myrtle Beach area every year.
“We really have a mixture because we are such a destination,” said Leonhardt. “So you will see what I call a” short -term crime “, come here, they will look for opportunities if they find them, they use them, then they go out.”
HCPD strategy
In order to deal with the influx of people in Horry County, the Department until 26 August. Will implement the fifth police neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest District.
The department also held about 50 positions in two years, which is unprecedented for other departments of the district, HCPD public information officer Mikala Moskov said.
Myrtle beach police earlier said she was missing 50 officers.
“We always observe our statistics,” said Leonhardt. “Growth has actually led to the desire to start a new territory and be able to provide better services.”
According to the US Census, the Horry County population has increased by more than 60,000 people or 17.1% from 2020 to 2024.
Myrtle Beach Police and Horry County Police are investigating a disaster that took place after four mask men fired weapons shots to officers excessive speed persecution on Thursday, 2025. May 22
Leonhardt said the main security strategy for the department is deterrent.
“Being that visible deterrent is a huge first step,” Leonhardt said. “However, this is the cultivation of special units that can focus on special crimes. We have raised our traffic team, we have raised our street crime team, our drug team, the implementation of the new gang, I think it is a great combination that influences our community to be safe.”
He said Leonhardt has been working with HCPD since 2002. And lives in the county from 6 or 7 years.
Despite the fact that many crimes are seen throughout the area, he could not choose a place where he would not live.
“I live in the Little River. I lived there all my life. I don’t intend to go somewhere,” Leonhardt said. “I love it. It’s just my area, so I think I say one area that I couldn’t do because everything is unique and gives my special taste.”