Orangeburg crime down 34% in 2026, report shows

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WCIV) — Crime in the City of Orangeburg declined by more than 34% through the first nine months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to data released by the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.

The report found property crime decreased by an average of 16%, while violent crime also declined. However, officials said motor vehicle-related property crimes increased by about 6%.

The department also reported that incidents involving handguns accounted for about 26% of aggravated assaults during the reporting period.

Domestic violence remained a concern, with about 34% of reported assaults linked to domestic violence, up from approximately 19% during the same period in 2025.

"While we are encouraged to see overall crime moving in the right direction, we cannot allow declining percentages to create a false sense that our work is finished," ODPS Director Chief Charles P. Austin Sr. said in a statement.

The department will continue focusing enforcement efforts on gun violence, domestic violence and motor vehicle-related crimes, Austin noted, while using crime data to guide policing and community engagement strategies.

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