Durham Ranks Sixth for Phone Theft Nationally
An IT Asset Management Group study places Durham sixth among U.S. cities for phone and handheld theft rates.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Property Crime
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Durham recorded 341.2 phone and handheld thefts per 100,000 residents, placing it sixth in a national ranking of 10 cities compiled by IT Asset Management Group. The city's rate is 149.1% above the national average of 137 per 100,000 residents.
Why it matters
The ranking shows phone and handheld theft in Durham running well above the national baseline, a concern for residents who carry mobile devices daily. The findings also highlight that six of the ten highest-ranked cities are in Southern states.
The ranking uses per-capita theft rates derived from FBI crime data and population figures, with Durham at 341.2 thefts per 100,000 residents against a national average of 137. The study does not address what drives these rates or whether they are rising or falling.
The players
IT Asset Management Group
An IT asset disposition firm that conducted the analysis of municipal phone and handheld theft rates.
The details
IT Asset Management Group evaluated population metrics alongside FBI crime data to rank U.S. municipalities by phone and handheld theft. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ranked first at 480.1 thefts per 100,000 residents, followed by Baltimore, Atlanta, Wichita and Little Rock, with Durham sixth and Spokane, Nashville, St. Louis and Cincinnati completing the top ten.
Timeline
- November 5, 2026: Study ranking Durham sixth for phone theft published.
Legal Context
The ranking relies on FBI crime data, the national reporting system for offenses reported by local police agencies, to measure per-capita theft across municipalities. Its findings place Durham's device theft rate well above the national average captured in that same reporting framework.
Durham residents who carry phones and handhelds face a theft rate well above the national average, making device security a practical concern in daily life. The ranking gives a reason to take basic precautions like keeping devices out of sight in public spaces.
The takeaway
Device theft rates vary widely between cities, so local conditions matter when assessing personal risk. Keeping phones secured and enabling remote-lock features can reduce the impact of theft wherever you live.
Further reading
For more on local trends, see Property Crime reporting for Durham.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS17.
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