Chudleigh Crime Rate

Chudleigh is a highly secure market town in South Devon, currently holding an excellent safety score of 89/100. The town's overall crime rate is just 45.7 per 1,000 residents, which is roughly half the UK national average of 91.7. Recent statistics show that the crime trend is stable, with a minor 1.4% decrease year-over-year. Located near the A38, Chudleigh offers a peaceful and low-crime environment for its 4,793 inhabitants. With property crime rates significantly below national norms, it is a highly desirable location for families and those seeking a secure lifestyle. The following sections detail the specific crime patterns and safety insights for this historic market town.

Crime Breakdown in Chudleigh

Violence and sexual offences are the most common reports in Chudleigh, accounting for 98 crimes or 20.4 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour (7.3 per 1,000) and criminal damage and arson (7.1 per 1,000). These figures are typical for a rural market town of this size.

Property crime in Chudleigh, which includes burglary, theft, and vehicle crime, is low at 12.1 per 1,000 people. This is significantly below the UK national average of 32.3. Within this category, 'other theft' and burglary are the most frequent, though both occur at very low rates (1.7 and 1.0 per 1,000 respectively). Vehicle crime is also minimal, affecting only 0.6 per 1,000 people. For residents, these figures reflect a very secure environment where property-related offences are rare. However, the prevalence of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour suggests that maintaining property boundaries and using motion-activated lighting remains a sensible precaution.

Crime Trends in Chudleigh

The crime trend in Chudleigh is currently stable, with a very minor 1.4% decrease in reported incidents over the past year. This consistency is characteristic of the town's secure and well-monitored community, which maintains a very high level of safety compared to larger urban centres.

Analysis of the monthly trendData from Dec 2024 to Nov 2025 shows that the crime rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated, with a low of 1.5 in November and a peak of 5.0 in March. After a relatively steady start to the year (4.8 in December and 3.8 in January), activity spiked in the spring before tapering off in the autumn. The year ended with a significant drop to 1.5 in November. This pattern suggests that while there was a temporary spike in activity during the early spring, the overall trend is one of improvement, with the final month of the year showing a notable decrease in incident rates. For residents, this is a reassuring sign of the town's safety.

How To Keep Safe in Chudleigh

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Chudleigh, though the overall numbers are very low. To maintain personal safety, it is always wise to be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking in quieter areas after dark, and to use well-lit routes where possible.

In a market town like Chudleigh, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage are the next most common issues. Ensuring your property's boundaries are well-defined and using motion-activated lighting can deter loitering and opportunistic crime. For those living near the town centre, keeping valuables out of sight in your vehicle is a sensible precaution.

Fostering strong relationships with neighbours through a local watch scheme can also help in identifying and reporting suspicious activity quickly. While the town is very safe, staying proactive about your property's security is the best way to maintain the high standards of safety found in Chudleigh. Ensuring that all outbuildings and garages are securely locked is particularly important for residents in this semi-rural setting. Joining a local community alert programme can also keep you informed of any specific local safety concerns.

Crime Patterns in Chudleigh

Crime in Chudleigh follows a distinct daily pattern. The afternoon hours (12pm-6pm) are the most active for theft-related offences, which account for 33% of crimes during this period. This often involves opportunistic theft from properties. As evening approaches (6pm-12am), the focus shifts significantly towards 'other' offences, including anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, which make up 79% of reports.

The night-time period (12am-6am) has the lowest overall volume of crime but presents a higher relative risk for specific property crimes. During this period, burglary reaches its peak relative frequency at 12% of incidents, and vehicle crime also rises to 10%. Morning hours (6am-12pm) see a high percentage of 'other' crimes (61%) and a resurgence in theft (30%) as the town's businesses and schools activate. For residents, this data highlights that securing vehicles and properties overnight is essential, while being vigilant about property security and anti-social behaviour during the evening is key to maintaining the town's high safety standards.

In the local context, Chudleigh's crime rate of 45.7 is notably lower than the nearby urban hub of Newton Abbot (87.8) and the industrial area of Heathfield (58.7). It has a similar safety profile to Bovey Tracey (34.1) and Chudleigh Knighton (30.7). While it is higher than the tiny village of Teigngrace (0.0), Chudleigh remains one of the safest towns in the Teignbridge district, offering a secure residential environment that compares very favourably to larger Devon settlements.

For residents of Chudleigh, property protection is about maintaining the town's high safety standards. While the property crime rate is low at 12.1 per 1,000, it is always wise to be proactive. Traditional security cameras often only record a crime as it happens, which is of little comfort after a break-in.

scOS provides a superior alternative by using AI-powered proactive protection. It monitors your property boundary 24/7, using multi-camera intelligence to detect potential threats before they reach your home. The system is smart enough to recognise your family and regular visitors, ensuring you only receive alerts for genuine threats. If an intruder is detected, scOS can autonomously respond by activating lights or speakers, destroying the element of surprise. In a town like Chudleigh, this professional-grade deterrence is the most effective way to prevent crime and ensure your property remains a hard target for opportunistic thieves.