Thornaby-on-Tees Crime Rate

Thornaby-on-Tees has an overall crime rate of 185.0 per 1,000 residents, a figure that is more than double the UK average of 91.6. This high frequency of crime is reflected in a safety score of 62/100, which is below the national average of 79. Most notably, crime in the area has increased by 7.8% year-over-year, indicating a rising trend in recorded offences. As a densely populated urban settlement, Thornaby faces significant challenges with public order, anti-social behaviour, and retail-related crime. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of these statistics, including time-based patterns, to help residents and businesses navigate the local safety landscape with factual information.

Crime Breakdown in Thornaby-on-Tees

Thornaby-on-Tees experiences a high volume of crime relative to its population, with violence and sexual offences being the most frequent, making up 27.9% of reports (1,108 incidents). Anti-social behaviour is a very close second at 25.5%, while shoplifting is the third most common at 13.2%. These figures indicate a high level of public-facing and community-based disruption.

Property crime is a significant issue in Thornaby, with a combined property crime rate of 63.9 per 1,000 residents. This is nearly double the UK average. The data shows 89 burglaries and 86 vehicle crimes recorded over the year. While burglary and vehicle crime are lower as a percentage of total crime compared to other areas, the overall rate of 185.0 per 1,000 means that residents are frequently exposed to criminal activity. For homeowners, the high rates of criminal damage (11.0%) and shoplifting (13.2%) suggest an environment where both residential and commercial property require high levels of protection.

Crime Trends in Thornaby-on-Tees

Thornaby-on-Tees is currently seeing an upward trend in crime, with a 7.8% increase in total incidents year-over-year. This growth in recorded offences suggests a challenging environment for local safety, contrasting with the stable or decreasing trends seen in nearby Billingham or Stockton.

The monthly data for 2025 reveals a highly active crime landscape. The year began with rates of 11.5 in January and 11.3 in February, before a significant surge in the spring. Crime rates reached their highest levels in May (17.4) and June (18.4), reflecting a sharp seasonal increase. While there was a slight dip in late summer, the rates remained high throughout the autumn, peaking again at 16.9 in November. This sustained high volume of crime throughout the year indicates that Thornaby faces consistent pressure across all seasons. For residents, the data underscores the need for continuous vigilance and proactive security measures to mitigate the risks associated with this rising trend.

How To Keep Safe in Thornaby-on-Tees

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Thornaby-on-Tees, often concentrated in public spaces during evening hours. To stay safe, residents should plan their travel carefully, sticking to well-lit, busy roads and avoiding shortcuts through parks or industrial areas. If walking alone, remain alert and avoid using headphones or mobile phones which can distract from your surroundings.

Anti-social behaviour is also highly prevalent, making up over 25% of all reported crimes. To help improve your local environment, consider engaging with community safety groups and reporting all incidents to the police. For home safety, ensure that motion-sensor lighting is installed around all entry points to eliminate dark spots where anti-social behaviour might occur.

Vehicle crime and burglary, while lower as a percentage of total crime, still occur frequently due to the high overall crime rate. Always double-check that your vehicle is locked and that no bags or electronics are left on display. For your home, ensure that all windows and doors are secured with high-quality locks. Given the high rate of shoplifting in the area, business owners should consider advanced surveillance and proactive deterrents to protect their premises.

Thornaby-on-Tees exhibits strong temporal patterns in its crime data. During the morning and afternoon, theft-related offences are prominent, accounting for 36% and 39% of reports respectively, largely linked to the town's retail activity. As evening falls, the nature of crime shifts dramatically toward anti-social behaviour and public order, which make up a staggering 70% of all incidents between 6pm and midnight. The night-time hours (12am - 6am) see a rise in property-focused crime, with vehicle crime accounting for 21% of reports and burglary for 15% during this period. These patterns indicate that while social and public order issues are the primary concern during the day and evening, property and vehicle security are most at risk during the overnight hours.

Within the Stockton-on-Tees borough, Thornaby-on-Tees (185.0) has the highest crime rate of the major urban settlements. It is more active than Stockton-on-Tees (160.1) and significantly higher than Billingham (109.6). In comparison to the highly secure Ingleby Barwick (40.9) and the quiet village of Stainton (47.6), Thornaby is a high-crime environment. For those considering the region, Thornaby represents the most challenging area for safety, though it remains slightly safer than the central core of nearby Middlesbrough (190.5).

Home Security and Protection in Thornaby-on-Tees

The property crime rate in Thornaby-on-Tees is 63.9 per 1,000 residents—nearly double the UK average of 32.2. In an environment with such high volumes of criminal damage, theft, and burglary, traditional security methods often prove inadequate. Standard CCTV and smart doorbells are reactive; they notify you while a crime is happening or provide footage for the police after the event. For homeowners in Thornaby, the goal should be to stop the crime before it occurs.

A proactive AI-powered security system like scOS is designed for this high-activity environment. By monitoring your property boundaries with multi-camera intelligence, scOS can identify suspicious behaviour and verify vehicles in real-time. Unlike basic systems, scOS doesn't just record; it autonomously responds to threats using lighting and audio to deter intruders before they reach your home. This immediate intervention is the most effective way to protect your property in an area where opportunistic crime is frequent. Moving to a proactive operating system ensures that your home is a hard target, encouraging burglars to move on.