Violent Crime Rate in Hoke Among Top-20 Worst in NC

Your chances of becoming a victim of violent crime are higher in Hoke County than 80 percent of North Carolina, according to a state report issued in late October.

Hoke County’s violent crime rate—which includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, as compiled in a North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) report—came in at 545.9 incidents per 100,000 people. The state average is much lower at 412.8.

[Editor’s Note: Hoke County’s population is roughly 52,000, but the SBI adjusted to a 100,000 rate to provide apples-to-apples comparisons with other counties.]

It’s worse in nearly all adjacent counties. Robeson’s number came in at a frightening violent-crime rate of 1,425.7 (highest in the state), Scotland 1,122.5 (runner-up in the category), Cumberland 824.5 and Richmond 673.4. You have a better chance of living long enough to enjoy grandchildren in Moore County, however, with a safety-reassuring rate of 162.6.

That’s five of the top 20 worst counties adjacent to one another in the southeast corner of North Carolina. With No. 1 and No. 2 most dangerous areas in the state, it’s a violent criminal hotbed.

Hoke County Property Offenses in 2023

11—Arsons

0—Briberies

171—Burglaries/Breaking and Entering

8—Counterfeiting/Forging

316—Destruction/Damage/Vandalism

7—Embezzlement

8—Extortion/Blackmail

164—Fraud

651—Larceny/Theft

56—Motor Vehicle Theft

8—Robbery

10—Stolen Property

Hoke County Person Offenses in 2023

609—Assaults

3—Homicides

0—Human trafficking

4—Kidnapping/Abduction

20—Sex Offenses

Hoke County Society Offenses in 2023

0—Animal Cruelty (none in the last five years)

134—Drugs/Narcotics (almost double from 2022 and 5 times the total in 2020)

0—Gambling

4—Pornography/Obscenity

1—Prostitution

62—Weapon Law Violations (nearly double that of 2022)

If you still have holiday shopping on the schedule, here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim.