Walton-on-Thames Crime Rate

Walton-on-Thames is an urban settlement with an overall crime rate of 81.5 per 1,000 people, which is lower than the UK average of 91.6. Despite this, the area has seen a notable 12.7% increase in crime year-over-year, a trend that warrants attention. The town maintains a strong safety score of 82/100, indicating it remains a relatively secure place to live compared to many other UK towns. Property crime in the area stands at 27.9 per 1,000 people, which is also below the national average of 32.2. This introduction provides the context for a deeper dive into the specific crime patterns and safety insights for Walton-on-Thames.

In Walton-on-Thames, the crime landscape is dominated by violence and sexual offences, which account for 33.5% of all reported incidents (27.3 per 1,000 people). This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 13.3% and public order offences at 9.3%. Property-related crime is a significant factor for the local community, with a combined rate of 27.9 per 1,000 residents. This category includes shoplifting (8.4%), criminal damage and arson (7.4%), and vehicle crime (6.1%). While the burglary rate is relatively low at 2.2 per 1,000 (2.8% of total crime), the overall property crime figure indicates that residents and business owners should remain vigilant. The high rate of shoplifting suggests that commercial areas are particularly active zones for property offences, while vehicle crime remains a persistent concern for those parking in residential and public spaces.

The crime trend in Walton-on-Thames is currently increasing, with a 12.7% rise in total offences compared to the previous year. Analysis of the 2025 monthly data shows that the crime rate per 1,000 people fluctuated significantly, starting at 6.4 in January and reaching a peak of 8.3 in July. Other high-activity months included April (7.8) and October/November (both 7.1). The lowest rate of the year was recorded in February at 5.7. This upward trajectory, particularly the spikes in spring and mid-summer, suggests that the area is experiencing a period of increased criminal activity that deviates from the more stable trends seen in other parts of the Elmbridge borough.

How To Keep Safe in Walton-on-Thames

Violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime type in Walton-on-Thames. To enhance your personal safety in this urban environment, consider the following tips:

1. Stay Alert in the Town Centre: Be particularly aware of your surroundings when walking through the town centre, especially during the afternoon and evening when footfall and crime reports are higher.
2. Secure Your Vehicle at Night: With vehicle crime making up 45% of night-time incidents, always park in well-lit areas or a locked garage if possible. Use visible steering locks to deter opportunistic thieves.
3. Be Vigilant While Shopping: Theft is most common during the morning and afternoon. Keep your bags zipped and be mindful of your purse or wallet in crowded retail environments.
4. Report ASB Promptly: Anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue. Reporting these incidents helps the police identify hotspots and prevents minor issues from escalating into more serious crimes.

In Walton-on-Thames, crime follows distinct temporal patterns. The morning hours (6am-12pm) are characterised by theft, which accounts for 43% of crimes during this period. This trend intensifies in the afternoon (12pm-6pm), with theft rising to 47% of reports, likely linked to peak retail activity. As the day transitions into evening (6pm-12am), 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order offences, become the majority at 50%. The night-time (12am-6am) presents a different risk profile, where vehicle crime surges to 45% of all reported incidents. Burglary remains relatively consistent across all time periods, peaking slightly in the afternoon at 14%. Understanding these shifts allows residents to adjust their security habits, such as being more vigilant while shopping in the afternoon and ensuring vehicles are extra secure overnight.

In the surrounding region, Walton-on-Thames (81.5 crimes per 1,000) sits in the middle of the safety spectrum. It is significantly more active than Hersham, which has a much lower rate of 51.1. It also has higher crime levels than Shepperton (68.8) and Upper Halliford (63.5). However, it remains slightly safer than Sunbury-on-Thames, which reports a rate of 82.3. For those considering the area, Walton-on-Thames offers a typical urban safety profile for Surrey, balancing its higher activity levels against its status as a major local hub for shopping and transport.

With a property crime rate of 27.9 per 1,000 people in Walton-on-Thames, relying on traditional reactive security is no longer the most effective strategy. Standard CCTV cameras, like those from Ring or Nest, are designed to record footage of a crime as it happens. While this might provide evidence later, it does little to stop the crime in progress. scOS offers a proactive alternative that focuses on prevention. By using AI to monitor your property boundaries in real-time, scOS can identify suspicious activity before a break-in occurs. It doesn't just watch; it acts. The system can autonomously engage deterrents like lights and speakers to scare off intruders. For Walton residents, especially those concerned about the 45% of night-time crime being vehicle-related, scOS provides professional-grade security that signals to criminals that your home is not an easy target. Choosing proactive AI protection means you are stopping threats at the property line, rather than just filming them.