Thame Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Thame’s crime rate in January 2024 stood at 4.3 per 1,000 residents, 41.9% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This places the built-up area within South Oxfordshire among the safer regions nationally. The most common crimes were 'other theft' (28.9% of total), 'violence and sexual offences' (26.7%), and 'shoplifting' (20.0%), with the latter two showing stark contrasts to UK averages. 'Other theft' was 111% above the national rate, while 'violence and sexual offences' were 58% below. These discrepancies may reflect Thame’s character as a low-density urban area with limited nightlife and retail activity compared to larger cities. Seasonal factors likely played a role, as January’s post-holiday period and shorter days typically reduce outdoor crime but may increase opportunistic theft in specific contexts. The relatively low burglary rate (4.4% of total) aligns with the area’s likely mix of residential properties and limited commercial zones, though this remains consistent with the UK average. Overall, the data suggests a stable, low-crime environment with localized spikes in certain categories that warrant further observation.

The most dramatic shift in January 2024 was the 225% increase in 'other theft' cases, rising from 4 to 13. This surge, though unexplained by the data, may partly reflect post-holiday activity or seasonal fluctuations in retail environments. Concurrently, shoplifting also rose sharply by 125%, moving from 4 to 9 incidents—a trend that contrasts with the 58% UK average for this category. 'violence and sexual offences' remained significantly below the UK average (58% below), despite comprising 26.7% of total crimes in Thame. Anti-social behaviour increased by 33.3%, while criminal damage and arson fell by 80%, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity. For residents, the 1-in-235 monthly exposure figure offers a concrete measure of risk relative to the population, though it does not capture the volatility in specific crime types.

Thame's crime rate in January 2024 remained stable compared to December 2023, with no change in the overall rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no significant disruption to local patterns during the transition into the new year. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that reflects the low overall rate relative to national averages. When viewed through the lens of population exposure, the monthly aggregate indicates that one crime occurred for roughly every 235 residents in Thame—a ratio that underscores the area’s relatively safe profile compared to the UK average. While this figure does not directly compare to national daily or monthly metrics, it provides a clear local context for residents assessing their personal risk. The stability in crime rate contrasts with the sharp swings observed in specific categories, highlighting the need to examine individual crime types for deeper insights.