“After decreases in both 2017 and 2018, the violent crime rate dropped an additional one percent during the year and the property crime rate decreased 4.5 percent. In 2019, there were an estimated 1,203,808 violent crimes and an estimated violent crime rate of 366.7 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

The crime rate in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is notably higher than the U.S. national average, particularly regarding violent crime. According to 2025/2026 statistics, the territory has one of the highest per-capita homicide rates in the United States, largely driven by gang-related activity and domestic disputes in specific neighborhoods away from tourist centers. For the average traveler, however, the most common threat is petty theft, such as "smash-and-grab" robberies from rental cars at secluded beaches or pickpocketing in crowded areas of St. Thomas and St. Croix. Authorities have reported a stabilization in crime recently due to increased police presence in tourist zones like Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted. Travelers are advised to exercise "normal" high-level precautions: avoid walking in unlit areas at night, do not leave valuables in plain sight in vehicles, and stay aware of your surroundings in the "backstreets" of the major towns. Despite these statistics, the vast majority of the millions who visit the USVI annually do so without incident.