Scarcroft Crime Rate

Scarcroft is a high-safety residential area with a safety score of 90/100. The overall crime rate is 41.0 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.6. Recent data indicates a positive trend, with total crime decreasing by 18.8% year-over-year. Property crime is also notably low at 15.8 per 1,000, compared to the national average of 32.2. While violence and sexual offences are the most common individual crime type, burglary is also a significant factor in the local statistics. For the population of 1,268, these figures represent a secure environment that is continuing to improve. The following sections offer a detailed analysis of crime types, monthly trends, and specific safety advice for Scarcroft.

In Scarcroft, the crime landscape is primarily defined by violence and sexual offences, which account for 40.4% of all recorded incidents (21 cases). Burglary is the second most common crime, representing 15.4% of the total, followed by anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, each at 13.5%. When we aggregate property-related crimes—including burglary, criminal damage, theft, and vehicle crime—the rate in Scarcroft is 15.8 per 1,000 residents. This property crime rate is significantly lower than the UK average of 32.2. For homeowners, the prominence of burglary as the second most common crime type is a key takeaway, suggesting that while the overall volume of crime is low, residential security remains a priority. The low vehicle crime rate (0.8 per 1,000) is a positive indicator for car owners in the area.

The crime trend in Scarcroft is currently very positive, with an 18.8% decrease in total offences compared to the previous year. This significant reduction reinforces the area's reputation as a high-safety neighbourhood. Monthly data for 2025 shows that crime rates remained consistently low, with minor fluctuations. The year began with a rate of 5.5 in January, followed by lower rates in February (3.2) and March (3.9). A notable low occurred in April with a rate of 0.8. Activity peaked in August at 9.5, which was the highest for the year, before dropping back to 1.6 in September and finishing the year with consecutive rates of 0.8 in November and December. These low figures are typical for a community of Scarcroft's size and suggest that crime is infrequent and well-managed. The overall downward trajectory is a strong indicator of a safe and stable environment.

How To Keep Safe in Scarcroft

The most common crime in Scarcroft is violence and sexual offences, followed by burglary. To maintain personal safety, it is always wise to stay alert and aware of your surroundings, particularly when walking alone after dark. Stick to well-lit paths and avoid isolated shortcuts. For property owners, burglary is a significant local concern, occurring throughout the day but peaking at night. Ensure that your home is physically secure with high-quality locks on all doors and windows. Since nearly half of afternoon and evening crimes are burglaries, it is important to make your home appear occupied even when you are out; use timer switches for lights and avoid leaving high-value items in plain view. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage are also present in the local data, so reporting any suspicious activity or minor incidents to the police can help prevent more serious offences. Finally, consider installing a proactive home security system that can detect and deter intruders before they attempt to enter your property, providing an essential layer of protection for your home.

Analysis of crime in Scarcroft reveals clear temporal trends. Burglary is a consistent threat across all time periods but is particularly dominant at night (12am - 6am), where it accounts for 52% of all recorded activity. It is also a major factor in the afternoon (47%) and evening (42%), suggesting that properties are targeted both when residents are likely away and when they are at home. Morning hours see a more even distribution between burglary, theft, and "other" crimes. Vehicle crime, while very low overall, is most likely to occur during the night. The evening period also sees a high proportion of "other" crimes, including anti-social behaviour, which accounts for 43% of incidents. These patterns indicate that residents should be vigilant about home security at all times of the day. Despite these peaks, the low total volume of crime reinforces Scarcroft's status as a very safe community.

Scarcroft is situated in a cluster of very safe villages in the north-east of Leeds. Its crime rate of 41.0 per 1,000 is slightly higher than its immediate neighbours, Shadwell (36.5) and Thorner (38.0), but lower than Scholes (45.7). It is also less safe than East Keswick (28.9) and Bardsey (26.9). Despite these local variations, all of these areas are significantly safer than the UK average. Scarcroft remains a highly desirable and secure location, offering a much lower crime environment than the more densely populated parts of the Leeds local authority area.

In Scarcroft, the property crime rate of 15.8 per 1,000 is well below the national average, yet burglary remains the second most common crime type. This suggests that residential properties are the primary focus for opportunistic offenders. Traditional security systems like Ring or Nest are reactive; they notify you after someone is already at your door. For a high-safety area like Scarcroft, proactive protection is a superior choice. The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to stop crime before it happens. By identifying threats at the property boundary, it can activate autonomous responses such as deterrent lighting and audible alerts. This is particularly effective in Scarcroft, where burglary peaks at night, accounting for 52% of all night-time activity. A visible, intelligent system like scOS signals that a property is professionally protected, often causing potential intruders to move on within 60 seconds. Shifting from recording a crime to preventing it is the most robust way to protect your home and family in this community.