Crime on Hilton Head Hilton Head has a very low crime rate. Every plantation has it's own security force with arrest powers, and the island is patrolled by Beaufort county Sheriff's Deputies. That said, visitors should always exercise common sense to prevent crime. Petty theft is not uncommon, so you should not leave cameras, purses and other tempting targets on your car seat in plain view. Leave your expensive bike at home and rent one.
Bike locks are relatively easy to defeat.
Lock your rental property when you leave. Although incidents are very rare, I would recommend women not walk on the beach alone at night, if for no other reason drunks are common in resort areas.