Whitburn (South Tyneside) Crime Rate

Whitburn (South Tyneside) is a relatively safe urban settlement, with an overall crime rate of 72.0 per 1,000 residents. This is considerably lower than the UK national average of 91.7. The area boasts a strong safety score of 84/100, which is well above the UK average of 79/100. However, data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows an increasing trend, with crime rising by 11.2% year-over-year. While Whitburn remains one of the more secure locations in the region, this recent uptick suggests that residents should remain vigilant. The statistics are primarily driven by personal safety incidents and retail-related theft, though property crime remains a factor for local homeowners to consider.

Crime in Whitburn (South Tyneside)

Whitburn (South Tyneside) maintains a crime profile that is generally lower than the national average, though it faces specific challenges. Violence and sexual offences are the most common, accounting for 30.5% of total crime. Shoplifting is also significantly prevalent, making up 20.7% of incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 13.0%.

The combined property crime rate for Whitburn is 30.6 per 1,000 residents, which is just below the UK average of 32.3. This total includes shoplifting (14.9 per 1,000), other theft (4.4 per 1,000), and vehicle crime (3.2 per 1,000). Burglary remains a smaller component at 3.5% of the total. For residents, this means that while the overall risk is lower than in neighbouring South Shields, property-related offences still occur regularly. The high proportion of shoplifting suggests that local retail outlets are the primary targets, but the presence of vehicle crime and burglary indicates that residential security should not be overlooked by homeowners.

Crime Trends in Whitburn (South Tyneside)

Whitburn is currently experiencing an upward trend in criminal activity, with a 11.2% increase in total crimes compared to the previous year. This rise is notable for an area that has traditionally maintained very high safety standards.

Looking at the monthly data for 2025, the crime rate fluctuated throughout the year. It began at 6.3 per 1,000 in December 2024 and reached a mid-year peak of 8.0 in June 2025. Interestingly, the latter part of the year saw a significant cooling off, with rates dropping to a low of 4.0 in October and 4.6 in November. This suggests that while the overall year-over-year figure is up, the most recent months indicate a potential return to lower crime levels. Residents should remain cautious but can take some comfort in the late-year downward movement.

How To Keep Safe in Whitburn (South Tyneside)

The most common crime in Whitburn is violence and sexual offences (30.5%), followed closely by shoplifting (20.7%). Personal awareness and retail security are key to staying safe.

1. Be Mindful in Retail Zones: With shoplifting making up over 20% of crime, be extra cautious with your bags and wallets in local shops, as busy environments can attract opportunistic thieves.
2. Secure Vehicles at Night: Vehicle crime accounts for a significant 37% of crimes between 12am and 6am. Always park in well-lit areas and ensure no valuables are left inside overnight.
3. Evening Travel: Anti-social behaviour is more common in the evenings. When walking home, stick to main roads and avoid poorly lit shortcuts or isolated coastal paths.
4. Home Entry Points: Burglary represents 22% of night-time crime. Double-check all ground-floor windows and doors are locked, even if you are just in another room.
5. Community Vigilance: Given the 11.2% increase in crime, participating in local neighbourhood watch schemes can help keep the community informed and deter criminal activity.

Crime Timing in Whitburn (South Tyneside)

The timing of crime in Whitburn shows a clear shift between daytime commercial activity and night-time residential risk. During the morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft-related offences are the most common, making up 48% and 51% of incidents respectively. This high daytime percentage is largely due to shoplifting and other opportunistic thefts in retail areas.

As the day transitions into the evening (6pm - 12am), 'other' crime types, including anti-social behaviour, become the dominant category at 47%. However, the night-time period (12am - 6am) presents a very different risk profile. Vehicle crime spikes dramatically to 37% of all recorded incidents during these hours, while burglary also peaks at 22%. This suggests that while theft is a daytime concern for businesses, property and vehicle owners are at their highest risk during the late-night and early-morning hours.

Whitburn occupies a favourable position within South Tyneside. When compared to the high-density urban areas of South Shields (144.0 crimes per 1,000) and the coastal hotspot of South Bents (244.7 crimes per 1,000), Whitburn is remarkably safe. However, it does have a slightly higher crime profile than the very quiet residential villages of Cleadon (37.2) and East Boldon and West Boldon (60.1). This makes Whitburn an attractive option for those seeking a balance between a peaceful coastal lifestyle and the convenience of nearby urban centres, provided they are aware of the moderate levels of local activity.

Whitburn’s property crime rate of 30.6 per 1,000 residents indicates a steady risk of theft and burglary. While the area is generally safe, the 11.2% increase in crime over the last year suggests that homeowners should reconsider traditional, reactive security measures. Standard cameras often only provide footage of a crime after it has occurred, which does little to prevent the initial trauma of a break-in.

Proactive protection is the only way to truly secure a home in Whitburn. scOS is an AI-powered home security operating system that monitors your property boundary in real-time. Unlike DIY systems that notify you after a sensor is tripped, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to identify threats before they reach your door. It can differentiate between residents and intruders, and use autonomous responses like engaging lights and speakers to deter potential burglars. In an area where vehicle crime accounts for 37% of night-time incidents, scOS’s ability to verify vehicles and detect unusual patterns provides the professional-grade security needed to stop threats at the property line.