Caton Crime Rate

Caton is a peaceful and secure village with a high safety score of 89/100, significantly outperforming the UK average of 79. The overall crime rate in Caton is 51.7 per 1,000 people, which is much lower than the national average of 91.6. Most encouragingly, the area has seen a 19.1% decrease in crime year-over-year, indicating a strong positive trend in local safety. The property crime rate is also low at 16.3 per 1,000, roughly half the UK average of 32.2. These statistics make Caton one of the more desirable and safe residential areas within the Lancaster local authority. The following sections provide a detailed look at the types of crime occurring and offer practical advice for staying safe.

In Caton, the crime profile is primarily defined by anti-social behaviour, which accounts for 30.3% of all reported incidents (50 crimes). This is followed closely by violence and sexual offences at 27.9% and criminal damage and arson at 9.7%.

Property-related crime in Caton—encompassing burglary, vehicle crime, and various thefts—occurs at a rate of 16.3 per 1,000 people. This is significantly lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.2. Within this category, other theft is the most frequent (9.1%), followed by burglary (7.3%) and vehicle crime (3.0%). For residents, these statistics suggest that while social order and personal offences are the most visible issues, property security remains a key consideration, especially given that burglary accounts for a higher percentage of total crime here than in some neighbouring settlements. The prevalence of criminal damage also indicates that property-related offences often include vandalism alongside theft.

The crime trend in Caton is very positive, with a 19.1% decrease year-over-year. The monthly data for 2025 shows that after a peak of 6.9 crimes per 1,000 in February, the rate generally trended downwards. The middle of the year saw rates fluctuate between 3.5 and 6.0, but the final two months showed a marked improvement. November recorded a rate of just 2.2 per 1,000, and December was similarly low at 2.5. This sustained reduction towards the end of the year suggests that Caton is becoming an even safer place to live as it moves into 2026.

How To Keep Safe in Caton

Anti-social behaviour is the most frequently reported crime type in Caton, followed by violence and sexual offences. To maintain your safety and contribute to the village's positive trend, consider the following:

1. Stay involved in the community. Close-knit villages like Caton are naturally safer when neighbours look out for one another. Reporting unusual activity can prevent crimes before they occur.
2. Ensure your home's exterior is well-lit at night. Anti-social behaviour often occurs in darker, less visible areas; motion-activated lighting is a simple but effective deterrent.
3. Secure all outbuildings, such as sheds and garages. While the overall burglary rate is low, these are often targets for opportunistic theft of tools and bicycles.
4. If you witness anti-social behaviour, do not engage directly. Report it to the local police via the 101 non-emergency number to help them identify and manage any emerging hotspots.
5. Be mindful of your personal safety when walking at night, especially in less populated parts of the village. Stick to well-lit routes and carry a mobile phone at all times.

Caton's crime timings show clear patterns that residents can use to stay safe. Theft-related offences are most common during the day, accounting for 44% of morning crimes and 42% of afternoon incidents. However, the most significant shift occurs at night (12am-6am), where burglary accounts for 40% of all recorded offences. This suggests that while daytime crime is largely opportunistic theft, the early morning hours present the highest risk for residential security. Evening hours (6pm-12am) also see a high relative proportion of burglary at 30%, alongside a rise in anti-social behaviour, which makes up a large portion of the 'other' category.

In the local regional context, Caton is a very safe choice for residents. Its crime rate of 51.7 is lower than that of nearby Halton (54.6) and dramatically more secure than the city of Lancaster (124.5). While it has a slightly higher rate than the smaller village of Over Kellet (40.6), it remains one of the safest built-up areas in the region. For those seeking a rural lifestyle with easy access to the city, Caton offers a safety profile that is hard to beat, with only the tiny rural hamlet of Nether Kellet (0.0) providing a lower statistical crime rate in the immediate vicinity.

With a property crime rate of 16.3 per 1,000, Caton is statistically twice as safe for property as the average UK settlement. However, the fact that burglary accounts for 40% of night-time incidents suggests that residents should still take security seriously. Traditional CCTV systems are often reactive, providing footage of a crime only after it has occurred. For homeowners in Caton, a proactive approach is far more effective.

The scOS AI-powered security system is designed to prevent crime before it happens. By using multi-camera intelligence to watch your property boundaries, scOS can detect potential intruders and respond autonomously with lights and audio warnings. This immediate deterrence is a powerful tool against the opportunists responsible for most burglaries and thefts. In an area where the crime trend is already decreasing, choosing a system that prevents rather than just records ensures your home remains a hard target. Visible, intelligent security signals to potential offenders that your property is well-protected, usually causing them to move on to easier, unprotected targets.