Carmarthen Crime Rate

Carmarthen is a bustling regional centre with an overall crime rate of 165.1 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is significantly higher than the UK average of 91.6, resulting in a safety score of 59/100. Recent data from Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 shows a sharp increasing trend, with total crime rising by 44.9% year-over-year. As a primary hub for commerce, administration, and social life in West Wales, Carmarthen naturally experiences a higher concentration of incidents than its rural surroundings. The high rate is particularly influenced by theft-related offences in its busy retail sectors. The following sections offer a detailed breakdown of these statistics, providing insights into crime types and temporal patterns to help residents and visitors stay safe.

Crime Breakdown in Carmarthen

In Carmarthen, violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime type, accounting for 45.0% of all reported incidents with 1,135 cases. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 9.4% (237 crimes) and shoplifting at 9.1% (230 crimes). These figures are indicative of a major regional town that serves as a primary hub for shopping, government, and social activity.

Property crime in Carmarthen is notably high, with a rate of 48.2 per 1,000 people, which is significantly above the UK average of 32.2. This includes burglary (67 crimes, 2.6%), shoplifting (230 crimes, 9.1%), and vehicle crime (58 crimes, 2.3%). The high shoplifting rate reflects Carmarthen's status as a major retail centre. For residents and business owners, the overall property crime figure suggests a high risk of opportunistic theft and damage. While burglary makes up a smaller percentage of the total, the frequency of theft-related offences necessitates a very high standard of security for both commercial and residential properties. Homeowners should be particularly aware of the potential for opportunistic crimes in such a busy urban environment.

Crime Trends in Carmarthen

The crime rate in Carmarthen has seen a substantial upward trend, with a year-over-year increase of 44.9%. This is a significant rise that residents and local businesses should note. Analyzing the monthly trend data for 2025, the crime rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated between 10.4 and 17.8.

The year began with a rate of 12.6 in January, which saw a steady climb through the spring. The peak occurred in June 2025, with a rate of 17.8 per 1,000 people, followed closely by July at 17.0. This mid-year spike suggests that the summer months are the most active period for crime in the town. Following this peak, the rate saw a temporary dip in September to 10.4 before rising again to around 13.5 for the final quarter of the year. This pattern indicates that while crime is high year-round, the middle of the year presents the greatest challenge to local safety. The 44.9% annual increase highlights the growing importance of proactive security measures in the community.

How To Keep Safe in Carmarthen

The most common crime in Carmarthen is violence and sexual offences, accounting for 45.0% of total incidents. Given the town's role as a major hub, staying safe involves both personal awareness and property security.

1. When in the town centre, especially during the evening and night, stay in well-lit, populated areas and avoid walking alone through quiet streets or car parks.
2. Be mindful of your belongings in busy retail areas; Carmarthen's high shoplifting and theft rates mean opportunistic pickpockets or bag-snatchers may be active.
3. Ensure that your home and vehicle are always locked, even if you are only away for a short time, as opportunistic property crime is a significant factor in the area.
4. If you own a business in the town, consider joining local business crime reduction partnerships to stay informed about local shoplifting trends and offenders.
5. Install a high-quality, proactive security system at your home; visible deterrence is essential in an area with a high volume of property-related offences.

Crime timing in Carmarthen reflects its status as a major retail and social destination. During the morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft-related offences are at their highest, making up 46% and 49% of activity respectively. This is directly linked to the town's busy shopping hours and high levels of pedestrian traffic.

As the day moves into the evening (6pm - 12am), 'other' crime types, including anti-social behaviour and public order incidents, spike to 56% of the total. This evening peak is typical of urban hubs with a vibrant nightlife. During the night (12am - 6am), property crimes become more concentrated, with burglary accounting for 18% and vehicle crime for a significant 27% of the period's activity. This suggests that while overall incident volume may be lower at night, the risk to unattended property and vehicles is proportionately higher. Homeowners and vehicle owners should be particularly vigilant during these nocturnal hours.

In a local context, Carmarthen acts as the primary focal point for recorded crime, showing a stark contrast to its immediate neighbours. Nearby settlements such as Abergwili, Bronwydd, Peniel, and Nantgaredig all reported crime rates of 0.0 per 1,000 residents in the current data period. This disparity highlights Carmarthen's role as the regional urban hub where crime is most concentrated. While the surrounding villages offer an exceptionally quiet and near-zero crime environment, Carmarthen's high rate of 165.1 reflects the complexities of a major town serving a large catchment area. For those considering the region, this data underscores the difference between the town's busy centre and its tranquil outskirts.

In a busy town like Carmarthen, where the property crime rate is a high 48.2 per 1,000, homeowners and business owners face a significant risk of opportunistic theft and burglary. Traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV or DIY doorbells, are inherently reactive. They provide you with footage of a crime that has already taken place, which does little to prevent the loss or damage in the first place.

For true protection in such an active environment, a proactive approach is necessary. scOS uses AI to monitor your property boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they reach your door. Unlike traditional cameras, scOS can autonomously respond to an intruder—activating lights or sound to remove the element of surprise. This immediate intervention is a powerful deterrent, signaling to criminals that your property is a hard target. For Carmarthen residents, moving from reactive recording to proactive AI deterrence is the most effective way to secure their property against the town's high property crime rates.