Escalating Crime Rates Prompt Community Concerns in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, December 29, 2025

Myrtle Beach is experiencing an alarming rise in criminal activity as the year ends, prompting concerns about public safety. The community has observed a significant increase in crime rates, which now stands at 226.80. In response, the city has raised salaries for first responders and is actively addressing the issue. Additionally, illicit activities in neighboring areas are compounding the public’s worries, highlighting the need for robust measures to ensure safety and stability in this coastal city.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is currently observing a discernible escalation in criminal activity, a development that has drawn the quiet attention of its community as the year draws to a close. This rise in reported incidents compels a somber reflection on the enduring question of public safety within this vibrant coastal city, a concern that touches the lives of both long-standing residents and those who seek its shores for respite. The very fabric of daily life, in its commerce and its quietude, relies upon a stable environment, and the current trend invites a collective pause to consider the contours of this challenge. The city’s overall crime rate of 226.80 has concerning impacts on safety.

Community Vigilance and Official Responses

The reported increase in crime serves as a poignant reminder of the perpetual need for robust civic infrastructure. To address public safety concerns, the starting salaries for Myrtle Beach’s first responders have been increased six times since 2021, an earnest effort to ensure that those entrusted with the community’s immediate protection are adequately supported. This systematic augmentation reflects a clear understanding that the work of maintaining order is foundational to a thriving society. These efforts align with the broader mission of the South Carolina Judicial Branch, which endeavors to provide a fair and efficient forum for the just resolution of civil, family, and criminal matters across the state, ensuring that the rule of law remains a steadfast anchor.

The conversation surrounding crime is not confined to the city limits alone. Neighboring areas in Horry County have also reported an uptick in violent crimes, such as gang-related shootings, particularly in the western part of the county, including Longs, Loris, and Little River, where much of the population growth is occurring. A recent incident involved a South Carolina carjacking suspect from Myrtle Beach who was arrested in James City County after a Flock camera alert on Sunday, December 28. The suspect faces charges including felony evading and eluding, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and driving with a suspended license, with additional charges expected from Myrtle Beach Police. Furthermore, a Myrtle Beach pastor was indicted on December 18, 2025, for cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators related to his estranged wife’s death, highlighting the diverse nature of criminal matters being addressed. Another shooting incident near Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, December 20, 2025, resulted in one person injured and two individuals detained.

Electoral Dynamics and Civic Adjustments

Amidst these pressing considerations of public safety, the rhythms of civic engagement continue. The filing period for Myrtle Beach’s 2025 municipal election is drawing to a close on September 5, 2025, marking an important juncture for those citizens called to public service and for the electorate preparing to choose its future representatives. Such democratic processes are the quiet engines of societal direction, allowing for the periodic recalibration of leadership and policy.

Furthermore, the Myrtle Beach City Council addressed matters of urban management, having passed the second reading of an ordinance in October 2025 regarding parking regulations. This amended ordinance brings back free seasonal parking in downtown Myrtle Beach from October 1 through February 28 (or February 29 in a leap year) in designated city-metered spaces. This decision, like many municipal ordinances, reflects the practical considerations of balancing tourism’s economic vitality with the logistical demands placed upon local infrastructure, seeking a judicious path forward for a city that welcomes many.

Administrative Rhythms and State-Level Oversight

The less visible but no less vital gears of municipal administration continue their turn. As the calendar page turns toward a new year, the city has provided notice regarding the solid waste New Year’s week holiday schedule. Collections will follow a slightly different schedule the week of December 30, 2024, to January 3, 2025, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. Similarly, across the state, various administrative offices are resuming their regular functions following the brief pause of holiday observances. The offices of the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, for instance, reopened on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., after a closure that spanned from December 24th through December 26th, 2025.

At the state level, the architecture of regulation and oversight remains actively engaged. The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) continues its role in managing diverse licensing and permit processes. For certain Alcoholic Beverage Licensing (ABL) permits, for example, the prerequisite of first obtaining a Retail License from the SCDOR highlights the layered nature of state-level governance and its impact on various sectors of the economy. This confluence of local deliberation and state-level regulatory frameworks forms the quiet, yet firm, structure within which the lives of citizens and the operations of businesses unfold, each decision and administrative act a small but significant thread in the larger tapestry of communal existence. Work is also scheduled to commence in the City of North Myrtle Beach in December 2025, pointing to ongoing infrastructural and developmental pursuits within the broader coastal region.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the latest news regarding crime in Myrtle Beach?

  Myrtle Beach is currently observing an increase in criminal activity.

• How is Myrtle Beach addressing public safety concerns?

  The starting salaries for Myrtle Beach’s first responders have been increased six times since 2021.

• When does the filing period for Myrtle Beach’s municipal election close?

  The filing period for Myrtle Beach’s 2025 municipal election is drawing to a close on September 5, 2025.

• What is the South Carolina Judicial Branch’s role?

  The South Carolina Judicial Branch endeavors to provide a fair and efficient forum for the just resolution of civil, family, and criminal matters.

• What is the holiday schedule for solid waste in Myrtle Beach?

  Myrtle Beach has provided notice regarding the solid waste New Year’s week holiday schedule. Collections will follow a slightly different schedule the week of December 30, 2024, to January 3, 2025.

• When did the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners offices reopen?

  The offices of the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners reopened on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

• What did the Myrtle Beach City Council decide regarding parking?

  Myrtle Beach City Council members passed the second reading of an ordinance in October 2025 regarding parking regulations, bringing back free seasonal parking in downtown Myrtle Beach from October 1 through February 28 (or February 29 in a leap year) in designated city-metered spaces.

• Is there work starting in North Myrtle Beach?

  Work is scheduled to commence in the City of North Myrtle Beach in December 2025.

Key Features of Recent Myrtle Beach Developments

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Myrtle Beach Pastor Indicted for Cyberstalking
Conway Gun Store Closes After Repeated Armed Burglaries
Shooting Incident Leads to Arrest at Atlantic Beach Laundromat
Community Mourns the Loss of Rita Lewis Doyle
Emalyn Muzzy Joins syracuse.com as Education Reporter
Myrtle Beach Faces Key Issues Ahead of Elections
Tragic Death of Conservative Activist Sparks Calls for Unity
Myrtle Beach Mayoral Candidates Debate Key Issues Ahead of Election
DC BLOX Promotes Melih Ileri to Chief Investment Officer
Public Safety Highlights Myrtle Beach City Council Candidate Forum

Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH

The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.