Shortstown Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime Statistics in Shortstown

Shortstown, a Built-Up Area (BUA) with a population of 4,806, reports an overall crime rate of 92.4 per 1,000 residents annually. This figure is slightly below the UK national average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating a comparatively stable crime environment. The area achieves a good safety score of 81 out of 100, which is higher than the UK average safety score of 78. However, over the past year, crime trends in Shortstown show an increasing trajectory, with a significant 15.9% rise year-over-year. This upward trend provides essential context for understanding the detailed crime data and the evolving safety landscape within the area.

Crime Breakdown in Shortstown

In Shortstown, Violence and sexual offences stand as the most prevalent crime type, with 131 incidents, translating to 27.3 per 1,000 residents and constituting 29.5% of all recorded crimes. Shoplifting is the second most common concern, with 87 crimes, or 18.1 per 1,000 people, making up 19.6% of the total. Anti-social behaviour ranks as the third highest, with 82 incidents, or 17.1 per 1,000 residents, comprising 18.5% of the total.

The property crime rate in Shortstown is 37.2 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK average property crime rate of 33.2 per 1,000. This category includes burglary, theft from person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft. Specifically, other theft registered 28 incidents, vehicle crime 25, and burglary 11. These statistics indicate a notable area of concern for residents and homeowners regarding the security of their property and vehicles. Understanding these specific crime patterns is crucial for implementing effective preventative measures and enhancing local safety strategies.

Crime Trends in Shortstown

Examining the crime trends in Shortstown over the past year reveals an increasing picture, with a significant 15.9% rise year-over-year. This upward trajectory indicates a growing concern regarding the overall crime situation in the area. Looking at the monthly crime rate data per 1,000 residents, the rates generally showed an upward trend, with notable peaks. From 6.0 in October 2024, it reached a high of 14.2 in May 2025 and 11.9 in July 2025, before a slight dip. This increasing trend suggests that residents should remain particularly vigilant and consider strengthening their security measures. Understanding these patterns can help in making informed decisions about personal and property safety, especially given the notable increase in overall crime.

Time-Based Crime Patterns in Shortstown

Analysis of crime data in Shortstown Built-Up Area reveals distinct patterns throughout the day. The morning hours (6am-12pm) are characterised by a high proportion of theft-related offences (45%) and vehicle crime (23%), suggesting opportunistic crimes as residents commute or start their day. In the afternoon (12pm-6pm), theft remains dominant (51%), often coinciding with peak commercial activity, while burglary incidents also see a notable presence (16%). As the evening progresses (6pm-12am), "Other" crime significantly increases (40%), alongside vehicle crime (25%), indicating a shift in criminal activity. The night period (12am-6am) shows a pronounced peak in vehicle crime (52%) and "Other" crime (25%), indicating these hours are particularly vulnerable for vehicle-related offences when properties are often unattended. Shoplifting is also a significant concern throughout the day.

Comparison with Nearby Areas

To contextualise the crime rates in Shortstown, a comparison with neighbouring urban settlements provides valuable insights. Cardington, a nearby village, offers a comparison in terms of its crime profile. Cotton End, another close settlement, can show variations in crime dynamics due to its characteristics. Cople, a small village, provides further context for rural-urban fringe crime patterns. Finally, Bedford, the larger Built-Up Area, helps to round out the regional picture, illustrating how crime can vary even within close proximity. These comparisons allow residents to understand the specific safety landscape of Shortstown in relation to its immediate surroundings, highlighting both shared concerns and unique aspects of local safety.

Home Security and Protection

With a property crime rate of 37.2 per 1,000 people in Shortstown, which is higher than the UK average, and an increasing overall crime trend, residents are strongly encouraged to adopt robust home security measures. While traditional CCTV systems can provide footage after an incident, true peace of mind comes from preventing crime before it happens. Modern, AI-powered home security operating systems like scOS offer a proactive approach, detecting threats at your property boundary rather than merely recording a burglary in progress.

Unlike reactive systems that notify you after the fact, scOS intervenes in real-time. Its multi-camera intelligence watches all cameras simultaneously, ensuring nothing is missed, and it can even catch fake vehicle plates instantly with DVLA verification. By learning your family's routines and distinguishing real threats from everyday activity, scOS minimises false alerts. This proactive deterrence, through features like activating lights and engaging speakers, aims to destroy the element of surprise that burglars rely on, often making them move on within the critical first 60 seconds. For those seeking professional-grade protection that actively works to prevent property crime, considering a system that offers these advanced, proactive capabilities is a significant step beyond simply recording what could have been prevented, especially with rising crime trends.