US Virgin Islands Safe For Tourists, Despite High Crime Rate

Nov 24

It is true that rising 2024 crime rates in the US Virgin Islands has caught the attention of the press, but the statistics do not accurately reflect the real situation there. St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix are still considered very safe for travelers who want to vacation to the these island paradises. According to locals and Redditors in this November 2024 Reddit post on USVI crime, most of the felonies are isolated to areas and activities that don’t overlap with tourism.

In summary, tourists are not targeted by violent criminal activity, making the USVI a safe destination to explore now or plan to visit in 2025. There is still petty theft, and misdemeanor robberies, like anywhere else, but the safety precautions we’ll cover here should help vigilant visitors lower the risk of becoming a victim.

Is St. John Safe?

St. John USVI remains one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, but a few bad apples can stain a nearly perfect record on crime. St. John is often seen as a peaceful island where love is always in the air, but back in 2023, this article was published in the St. Thomas Source that punctuated the very few incidents that St. John residents had concerned over, including:

Delays in police responses to calls on crime reports.
A taxi driver and passengers being robbed in 2023, according to the USVI Police report on Facebook.
Swimming champ Jamie Cail was found unresponsive on St. John in 2023 and later died of a stabbing wound, according to Fox News.
A daylight jewelry store robbery in May 2023 where the owner was shot (Jamari Gumbs was arrested for the crime).
Understaffed and under resourced police department on St. John, that operate in a dilapidated building that discourages new recruits from joining the force, more here.
2022 robbery at Cinnamon Bay Campground by masked men, more here.

St. John Crime Rate Lowest of All Virgin Islands

While there has been a call for improvements in lowering crime and boosting police resources on St. John, the island remains the safest of all of the Virgin Islands. Because of the lowest crime rates and the fact that nearly the entire island is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, St. John is considered the best and safest island to visit.

Is St. Thomas Safe?

St. Thomas is not nearly as safe compared to St. John, but in general tourists are not targets of violent crime. Because of a higher than normal murder rate in 2024 (as of October there were 29 killed), St. Thomas has been the subject of numerous articles questioning the safety of the Virgin Islands.

In this Reddit discussion about whether it’s safe to walk around in St. Thomas, one Redditor recommends getting a taxi after dark, especially in Charlotte Amalie.

According to a 2024 homicide report, 20 murders took place in St. Thomas, compared to 13 in St. Croix and 0 in St. John. Analysis of that report finds that most violent crimes in St. Thomas happened in neighborhoods where tourists are unlikely to visit. There were some shootings near beaches which highlight risks in more tourist accessible locations. Many other homicides in St. Thomas were associated with personal disputes, domestic violence, or gang-related crime, all of which do not generally spillover to affect visitors to the island.

Is St. Croix Safe?

St. Croix is safer than St. Thomas, but has more crime than St. John. Of the thirteen homicides that occurred in St. Croix in 2024, a couple were shot while playing dominoes at a local home, one was shot near his business, one by a former partner, and another near a housing community. These types of violent crimes point to the domestic nature of the crimes, but when Michael Edwards (35) was killed in a shooting that injured five others on the Christiansted boardwalk in July of 2024 at 12:27am, immediate attention was brought to how this tragedy could affect tourism. Edwards was not a tourist.

Government Travel Advisories For The US Virgin Islands

Travel advisories recommending travelers avoid USVI islands like St. John and St. Thomas aren’t usually issued worldwide. Of course, to ensure the highest level of safety for travel to the Virgin Islands, normal precautions should be observed.

Tips To Stay Safe In The US Virgin Islands

Hiring reputable guides, taxi services, and charters (Google Reviews are good to check here)
Never travel or go on adventures alone.
Bring the right equipment for the type of adventure you choose.
Let someone know where you will be.
Stay updated on weather as it can change fast in the islands, which is especially important to keep in mind with any kind of water sport, like snorkeling, boating, diving or swimming.
Get travel insurance that includes emergency rescue options.
Make sure you have an emergency first aid kit, and know where to go in case you need electricity, as the USVI experiences power outages on a regular basis.
Don't leave valuables unattended,
Lock your rental car/ villa, etc.