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Crime in the Region of Murcia rose by 7.4% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, with state security forces recording 18,672 offences across the Region between January and March.

 

The figures, published by the Ministry of the Interior, place Murcia eighth among Spain's autonomous communities for overall crime levels; however, its rate of 47.1 offences per thousand inhabitants still sits just below the national average of 47.9.

 

The Ministry's data, which only covers municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants, also identifies which towns and cities are bearing the brunt of the problem.

 

Los Alcázares currently has the highest crime rate in the Region at 71.74 offences per thousand inhabitants, although it's worth noting that crime in the coastal town actually fell by 14.1% last year, with notable drops in theft and burglary. Rates of assault, sexual assault and drug-related offences in Los Alcázares remain low.

 

Águilas comes in second with a rate of 59.3 offences per thousand inhabitants, up 5.5% since the start of the year. Theft is the most common offence there at 119 recorded cases, followed by online fraud with 50 cases and brawls accounting for 27. A significant portion of offences in Águilas fall into the Ministry's catch-all category of "other criminal offences", which accounted for more than 300 cases in the first three months of the year alone.

 

Murcia city has climbed to third place with a rate of 58.3 offences per thousand inhabitants, driven by a 15.7% rise in crime during the first quarter. Fights were the biggest factor behind that increase, up 43.1%, alongside a 13.3% rise in sexual assaults involving penetration. The capital recorded no completed homicides during the period, although five attempted homicides were registered.

 

San Pedro del Pinatar and Mazarrón round out the top five with rates of 57.6 and 55.7 respectively.

 

Despite the overall increase, the Ministry of the Interior has pointed out that conventional crime nationally is currently at a rate of 40.5 offences per thousand inhabitants, described as the lowest figure on record.

 

Image: Guardia Civil