SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A study conducted by Gruber Law Offices analyzed Bureau of Justice statistics on the most frequently reported crimes in each state, including Missouri.
The 2022 study has revealed the five most commonly reported crimes in Missouri are:
- Destruction/damage/vandalism of property
- Simple assault
- Drug/narcotic violations
- Motor vehicle theft
- All other larceny
Destruction/damage/vandalism of property
According to Gruber Law Offices’ study, this was the most reported crime in Missouri, accounting for 44,989 reported incidents in the state throughout 2022.
Although vandalism typically involves the destruction of property, it is not always categorized as the same crime as intentional destruction or damage of property. Vandalism refers to the deliberate destruction or defacing of someone else’s physical property that lowers the property’s value.
Simple assault
Simple assault is the second most common Missouri crime with 40,731 reported incidents.
The study states simple assault is an unlawful physical attack by one person upon another where the offender does not display a weapon and the victim does not suffer obvious severe injuries. It often involves intimidation.
Simple assault is often tried as a misdemeanor.
Drug/Narcotic violations
In 2022, there were 31,685 reported crimes related to drug/narcotic violations, making it the third most commonly reported crime in the state.
Drug and narcotic violations include the use, possession, distribution, trafficking and manufacturing or cultivation of controlled drugs.
Motor vehicle theft
The fourth most common crime in Missouri is motor vehicle theft, with 30,267 reported incidents in the state.
Motor vehicle theft refers to the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle under US law, also known as grand theft auto.
All other larceny
In 2022, there were 28,518 reported incidents of all other larceny, making it the fifth most commonly reported crime in the state.
According to the study, larceny is often used interchangeably with theft, however, in the context of US law, it is a specific kind of theft that involves material personal property or items that can be possessed and carried away.
“This delineation is important to differentiate larceny from other forms of theft such as identity theft or intellectual property theft,” said the study. “In the context of this report, the FBI categorized theft from motor vehicles, theft from buildings, pickpocketing and shoplifting separately. Thus, all other larceny in this case refers to non-building or vehicle-related theft of material items.”