Rural Exeter Crime Rate

Rural Exeter encompasses the less densely populated areas surrounding the city, with an overall crime rate of 112.3 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK average of 91.6. The area's safety score is 71/100, compared to the national average of 79. Recent data indicates a significant increasing trend, with crime rates rising by 29.3% year-over-year. Despite this overall increase, property crime remains relatively low at 22.7 per 1,000 residents, which is better than the UK average of 32.2. The rural nature of the district presents unique security challenges, with crime profiles influenced by both local residential factors and proximity to the city's urban core. The following analysis explores the specific crime types, temporal patterns, and local comparisons that define the security landscape of Rural Exeter.

Crime Breakdown in Rural Exeter

In Rural Exeter, the most common crime type is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for 48.8% of all recorded incidents (54.8 per 1,000 people). Anti-social behaviour is the second most frequent at 17.2%, followed by criminal damage and arson at 9.4%. These figures reflect the primary concerns for public order and personal safety within the rural district.

Property crime in Rural Exeter—including burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and criminal damage—carries a collective rate of 22.7 per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 32.2. Within this category, criminal damage is the most significant contributor, while burglary and shoplifting both stand at 2.8 per 1,000 (2.5% of total crime each). For residents, this suggests that while personal and social offences are the most frequent, the risk to physical property remains below national levels. However, the recent increase in overall crime indicates that maintaining robust residential and rural security is increasingly important to protect homes and property.

Crime Trends in Rural Exeter

The crime trend in Rural Exeter is currently increasing, with a significant 29.3% change year-over-year. This upward shift is a notable change for the local community and suggests that residents should be more mindful of security than in previous years.

Monthly data for 2025 shows that crime rates fluctuated throughout the year, with a clear peak in the summer. July saw the highest rate of 18.3 per 1,000, followed by September at 13.3 and August at 12.2. The year began with lower rates in January (6.6) and February (4.4), but generally stayed above 6.0 for the remainder of the year. November saw a rate of 8.9 before ending the year at 6.1 in December. These monthly variations, combined with the overall annual increase, highlight a more active security environment in Rural Exeter than in the previous twelve-month period. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about local safety trends and take appropriate precautions.

How To Keep Safe in Rural Exeter

Violence and sexual offences, along with anti-social behaviour, are the most frequent crime types in Rural Exeter. Given the district's rural character, personal safety awareness and community engagement are key.

When walking in more isolated areas of the district, especially during the evening, try to stay on well-lit paths and let someone know your expected return time. Being aware of your surroundings and carrying a personal safety alarm can provide an extra layer of security.

Anti-social behaviour is a notable factor locally, so residents are encouraged to report any persistent disturbances to the local neighbourhood policing team. Community reporting is vital for helping police identify patterns and allocate their resources effectively in rural areas.

Finally, ensure your home and any outbuildings are secure. Rural properties can sometimes be targets for opportunistic crime, so using high-quality locks and motion-activated external lighting is highly recommended. With burglary accounting for 2.5% of total crime and property crime on the rise, ensuring your home is a hard target is a wise step to protect your property and contribute to the overall safety of the community.

Crime Timing and Patterns in Rural Exeter

Crime in Rural Exeter follows distinct temporal patterns, with activity levels shifting throughout the day. During the morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft-related offences are the primary concern, accounting for 29% and 30% of total recorded activity respectively. This suggests that opportunistic theft is most active during the busier daytime hours when people are away from their homes.

In contrast, the evening (6pm - 12am) and night (12am - 6am) periods see a shift in the proportional risk of property crime. During these late hours, burglary and vehicle crime reach their highest proportional peaks. Burglary accounts for 14% of crimes in the evening and 19% at night, while vehicle crime peaks at 18% during the night-time hours. This indicates that while the overall volume of crime is influenced by daytime activity, the risk to residential property and vehicles increases significantly under the cover of darkness. Residents are advised to ensure their home and vehicle security is most robust during the late-night and afternoon windows, when these specific property crimes are proportionally most frequent.

Rural Exeter occupies a unique position between the high-activity urban centre of Exeter and the quieter surrounding villages. Its crime rate of 112.3 per 1,000 is very similar to the main Exeter built-up area (116.9), but it is significantly higher than neighbouring Topsham (37.5). While it share some of the urban challenges of the city, its property crime rate is notably lower, reflecting its more residential and rural character. For those considering the region, Rural Exeter offers a blend of accessibility to city amenities with a lower risk of property-related offences, though the recent upward trend in overall crime is a factor to consider compared to the more stable neighbouring districts.

Rural Exeter's property crime rate of 22.7 per 1,000 residents is below the national average, but the 29.3% year-over-year increase in overall crime suggests that proactive security is becoming more important for local homeowners. Traditional security systems are often reactive—they record footage of a crime as it happens but do little to stop it. In a rural or semi-rural setting, where police response times may be longer, the goal should be to prevent crime before it even starts.

scOS is an AI-powered home security operating system that shifts the focus from recording to prevention. By using multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your property's boundary 24/7, distinguishing between normal activity and real threats. If an intruder is detected, the system can autonomously respond with lights and speakers to deter them immediately. This proactive deterrence is far more effective than traditional systems, as it destroys the element of surprise that burglars rely on. For Rural Exeter residents, scOS provides the peace of mind that their home is being watched by an intelligent system that doesn't just record crime, but actively works to keep it away from their property line. Choosing proactive protection over simple recording means you are actively defending your home rather than just documenting its loss.