South Merstham Crime Rate

South Merstham, an urban settlement within the Reigate and Banstead local authority, recorded an overall crime rate of 96.3 per 1,000 people from December 2024 to November 2025. This rate is slightly above the UK average of 91.7. Despite this, the area maintains a safety score of 78/100, which is very close to the national average of 79. The crime trend in South Merstham is currently increasing, showing a 7.0% rise compared to the previous year. This suggests that while the area remains relatively safe, there is a growing need for community awareness and proactive security. The following data explores the types of crime most common in the area and provides insights into when these incidents are most likely to occur.

Crime in South Merstham is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 32.1% of all recorded incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 22.0% and criminal damage and arson at 8.9%. These top three categories highlight a mix of interpersonal issues and social disorder within the local community.

Property crime in South Merstham occurs at a rate of 29.6 per 1,000 people, which is slightly lower than the UK average of 32.3. This includes burglary (2.5 per 1,000), vehicle crime (7.6 per 1,000), and shoplifting (5.8 per 1,000), alongside other theft and criminal damage. For residents, the vehicle crime rate is particularly notable, representing 7.8% of all crime. This suggests that cars parked on streets or in driveways are a frequent target for opportunistic thieves. While the burglary rate is relatively low, the high proportion of criminal damage and vehicle-related offences indicates that property security remains a key concern for the neighbourhood.

The crime trend in South Merstham is currently on an upward trajectory, with a 7.0% increase in total crimes recorded year-over-year. A detailed look at the monthly data for the period from December 2024 to November 2025 reveals some significant fluctuations. The year began with relatively stable rates, starting at 7.1 in December and dipping to 5.8 in January 2025.

However, a sharp increase was observed in late spring, with the crime rate peaking at 11.1 per 1,000 in May 2025. Following this peak, the rate remained somewhat elevated through the summer and early autumn, reaching 9.7 in September. By November 2025, the rate had decreased again to 5.5. This overall increase of 7.0% suggests that while the area remains generally safe, there has been a noticeable rise in recorded activity over the last twelve months, which residents should keep in mind when considering their personal and home security.

How To Keep Safe in South Merstham

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes in South Merstham, followed closely by anti-social behaviour. While the area is generally safe, being aware of local patterns can help you stay secure.

1. Be particularly mindful of vehicle security; always double-check that your car is locked and avoid leaving any bags or electronics visible, especially if parking on the street overnight.
2. When walking through the neighbourhood in the evening, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid poorly lit footpaths or cut-throughs.
3. If you experience anti-social behaviour, report it to the local authorities to help them identify and address persistent trouble spots in the community.
4. Ensure your home's exterior is well-lit with motion-sensor lighting, which can act as a simple but effective deterrent for both property crime and anti-social behaviour.
5. Consider joining a local community watch group to stay informed about recent incidents and share safety tips with your neighbours.

Crime in South Merstham follows distinct patterns throughout the day, with different types of offences peaking at different times. During the morning and afternoon, theft and other opportunistic crimes are more common, often coinciding with increased footfall around local shops and transport links. Specifically, 37% of afternoon crimes are theft-related.

As evening approaches, the nature of recorded crime shifts towards anti-social behaviour and social disorder, which peaks between 6 pm and midnight. However, the most striking pattern occurs during the night (12 am - 6 am), where vehicle crime accounts for a massive 55% of all recorded incidents. This suggests that vehicles are significantly more vulnerable under the cover of darkness. Burglary remains a steady risk throughout the day but shows a slight increase during the afternoon hours (15%) when homes are more likely to be unoccupied. Understanding these time-based risks allows residents to focus their security efforts where they are most needed.

South Merstham's crime rate of 96.3 per 1,000 is notably higher than several of its immediate neighbours. Merstham, Gatton, and Brewer Street all recorded 0.0 crimes per 1,000 during this period, indicating they are much quieter residential or rural pockets. Nutfield also reported a crime rate of 0.0, further highlighting South Merstham as the primary location for recorded criminal activity in this specific local cluster. This disparity is often typical for urban settlements that serve as local hubs for housing and transport, attracting more recorded incidents than the surrounding, more sparsely populated areas.

With a property crime rate of 29.6 per 1,000 and vehicle crime accounting for 7.8% of all offences, South Merstham residents face a clear risk of opportunistic theft. Vehicle crime is particularly prevalent at night, accounting for over half of all recorded incidents during the early morning hours. Traditional security measures, like basic CCTV, are often reactive—they provide footage of a crime after it has happened, which is of limited help in preventing the theft of a vehicle or a break-in.

Proactive protection is a far more effective strategy for this area. Systems like scOS use AI to monitor your property's boundaries and driveways in real-time. By detecting a potential intruder or car thief before they even reach your vehicle, scOS can trigger autonomous deterrents such as lighting and audio alerts. This immediate response destroys the element of surprise and often causes the criminal to move on. For South Merstham homeowners, investing in prevention-focused AI security is the best way to combat the local trend of opportunistic property and vehicle crime.