Waltham Cross Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Waltham Cross

Waltham Cross, an urban area with a population of 14,036, reports an overall crime rate of 110.6 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is higher than the UK average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating a comparatively higher incidence of crime. The area's safety score is 75 out of 100, which is slightly below the UK average safety score of 78/100. Encouragingly, over the past year, crime trends in Waltham Cross have been decreasing significantly, with a notable reduction of 17.5% year-over-year. This introduction provides an overview of Waltham Cross's crime landscape, setting the context for a more detailed analysis of specific crime types, temporal patterns, and comparisons with neighbouring areas.

Crime Type Analysis in Waltham Cross

In Waltham Cross, the most prevalent crime type is Violence and sexual offences, accounting for 479 crimes, or 30.9% of the total, at a rate of 34.1 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common, with 305 reported incidents, representing 19.6% of all crimes at 21.7 per 1,000. Shoplifting ranks as the third most frequent, with 196 crimes, making up 12.6% of the total and a rate of 14.0 per 1,000 people.

The property crime rate in Waltham Cross stands at 43.6 per 1,000 people per year, which is significantly above the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000. This category includes burglary (50 crimes, 3.2% of total), other theft (92 crimes, 5.9%), vehicle crime (97 crimes, 6.2%), criminal damage and arson (80 crimes, 5.2%), robbery (34 crimes, 2.2%), and theft from the person (49 crimes, 3.2%). For residents and homeowners, these statistics highlight a higher risk for property-related offences. The prominence of shoplifting, vehicle crime, and other theft suggests that strong preventative measures, particularly for securing personal property and vehicles, are crucial in Waltham Cross to mitigate these elevated risks.

Crime Trends in Waltham Cross

Waltham Cross has experienced a positive crime trend over the last year, with a significant decrease of 17.5% year-over-year in total reported crimes. Analyzing the monthly crime rate per 1,000 residents reveals fluctuations despite this overall reduction. The crime rate was notably high in October 2024 at 11.8 per 1,000, but saw a considerable dip in February 2025 to 6.1, indicating a period of reduced activity. While there were some increases in activity during June and July 2025, reaching 10.4 and 11.1 respectively, the overall trajectory points towards a decline. The rate settled at 9.1 in September 2025. This decreasing trend is encouraging for residents, suggesting that efforts to reduce crime in the area are yielding positive results, although vigilance during peak months remains advisable.

Time Patterns of Crime in Waltham Cross

Crime in Waltham Cross demonstrates clear temporal patterns throughout the day. In the morning hours (6am-12pm), theft is the most significant crime type, accounting for 50% of incidents, with vehicle crime at 19% and burglary at 8%. This suggests activity linked to commercial areas and commuter movements. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) sees theft remain dominant at 54% of crimes, and burglary increasing to 14%, likely coinciding with busy retail periods and properties being left unattended. In the evening (6pm-12am), 'other' crimes become the largest category at 42%, while theft reduces to 28% and vehicle crime is 18%, indicating a broader mix of offences. Night-time (12am-6am) is predominantly characterised by vehicle crime at 47% and burglary at 15%, reflecting opportunities when streets are quieter and properties are unoccupied.

Waltham Cross in Regional Context

Comparing Waltham Cross with its neighbouring areas provides important regional context for its crime statistics. Waltham Cross's overall crime rate of 110.6 per 1,000 is higher than the national average, and its safety score of 75/100 is slightly below average. Waltham Abbey, located nearby, may present a varied crime profile depending on its mix of urban and green belt areas. Cheshunt, a larger built-up area, often has a similar but slightly lower crime rate. Sewardstone and High Beech, typically more rural communities, generally report lower crime figures, reflecting their different demographic and environmental characteristics. This comparison highlights Waltham Cross's position as an area with a higher crime rate compared to some of its more residential or rural neighbours, underscoring the importance of local vigilance.

Enhancing Home Security in Waltham Cross

With Waltham Cross's property crime rate of 43.6 per 1,000 people, which is notably above the UK average, residents should prioritise robust home security measures. Traditional security approaches, such as standard CCTV cameras, often only provide footage after an incident has occurred, essentially recording a burglary rather than preventing it. For those seeking proactive protection, advanced AI-powered systems like scOS offer a fundamentally different approach.

scOS is designed to detect threats at your property boundary, stopping criminals before they can even attempt a break-in. Unlike reactive DIY systems that merely notify you after the fact, scOS intervenes in real-time. By leveraging multi-camera intelligence, it watches all cameras simultaneously, ensuring nothing is missed, and learns your routines to minimise false alarms. Visible professional-grade deterrence signals serious protection to potential intruders, often making them decide to move on within the crucial 60 seconds they typically take to assess a property. While basic DIY solutions have their place, if you are looking for a security system that actively prevents crime and protects your property, exploring proactive, AI-driven solutions is a significant step towards enhanced peace of mind.