South Molton Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

South Molton's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 4.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 38.2% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure, while low, reflects a combination of local factors and seasonal dynamics. The area's crime profile was dominated by violence and sexual offences (8 incidents, 30.8% of total), criminal damage and arson (4 incidents, 15.4%), and anti-social behaviour (3 incidents, 11.5%). These figures are consistent with the area's character as a built-up rural district, where property crimes and public order issues often intersect with limited retail and community spaces. January, a post-holiday month, typically sees reduced foot traffic and shorter daylight hours, which may contribute to the observed patterns. For instance, the lower rate of shoplifting (0.3 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.6 per 1,000) aligns with reduced retail activity during the winter months. However, the 79% increase in burglary rates over the UK average (0.5 vs 0.3 per 1,000) suggests vulnerabilities in property security that may require community engagement. The area's overall safety, while commendable, demands attention to specific categories such as criminal damage and burglary, which exceed national averages. This data underscores the importance of situational awareness, particularly during periods of low visibility and reduced community presence.

January 2026 brought sharp increases in specific crime categories, with other theft surging by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents). This spike, though small in absolute terms, may partly reflect heightened awareness or shifts in criminal activity during the post-holiday period. Anti-social behaviour and burglary both rose by 50%, a trend that could be linked to seasonal factors such as shorter days and reduced foot traffic in local retail areas. Violence and sexual offences fell by 57.9%, a drop that contrasts with the UK average for this category, which is 48% below the national rate. The area's criminal damage and arson rate (0.7 per 1,000) is 46% above the UK average, suggesting a localised issue that may require targeted attention. Residents should be particularly vigilant around property crimes, as burglary rates in South Molton (0.5 per 1,000) are 79% above the UK average, a discrepancy that may relate to the area's built-up character and potential vulnerabilities in home security.

South Molton's crime rate in January 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents) marked a 29.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.0 per 1,000. This decline, though modest, positions the area as significantly safer than the UK average, which stood at 6.8 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while low, warrants awareness given the nature of incidents reported. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for every 236 residents—a statistic that contextualises the rarity of crime in this area. This rate is particularly striking when compared to the UK's broader context, where the average resident faces a 1-in-147 chance of experiencing crime monthly. South Molton's population of 6,136 further underscores the low frequency of incidents, suggesting that while crime is not entirely absent, it remains a relatively infrequent occurrence for local residents.