Heathfield (Teignbridge) Crime Rate

Heathfield (Teignbridge) maintains a solid safety profile, with an overall crime rate of 63.6 per 1,000 residents for the period of January 2025 to December 2025. While this is higher than some of the surrounding rural settlements, it remains significantly safer than the UK national average of 91.6. The area holds a safety score of 82/100, which is comfortably above the UK average of 79. However, recent data shows an increasing trend, with a 10.8% rise in crime compared to the previous year. This suggests that while Heathfield remains a relatively safe place to live, residents should be mindful of the upward direction in local statistics and take appropriate security precautions.

Heathfield (Teignbridge) sees a higher volume of reports compared to some neighbouring villages, with violence and sexual offences being the most common crime type at 58.7% of the total (37.3 per 1,000 residents). Anti-social behaviour is the second most frequent issue at 12.0%, followed by other theft at 8.7%.

The property crime rate in Heathfield is 11.7 per 1,000 people. This combined figure includes burglary, robbery, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft. While this is well below the UK average property crime rate of 32.2, it represents a notable portion of local police activity. Shoplifting and robbery both account for 2.2% of total crime, while burglary and vehicle crime are relatively low at 1.1% each. For residents, this suggests that while personal safety and anti-social behaviour are the primary concerns, there is a steady baseline of property-related offences that requires consistent home and business security measures.

Heathfield is currently seeing an upward trend in criminal activity, with a 10.8% increase in crime year-over-year. Monthly data for 2025 shows considerable variation, with the crime rate per 1,000 people peaking in June at 10.4. Other high-activity months include April (9.0) and the final quarter of the year, with October, November, and December all seeing rates above 6.0.

The lowest activity was recorded in February at just 1.4 per 1,000. This pattern suggests that crime is more frequent during the warmer months and into the winter holiday period. For residents, the 10.8% rise is a signal to be more proactive about security. While the overall rate is still lower than the national average, the consistent growth in reports throughout the latter half of 2025 indicates that the area is becoming busier from a policing perspective.

How To Keep Safe in Heathfield (Teignbridge)

The most common crime in Heathfield is violence and sexual offences. While these often involve people known to each other, general personal safety is still important. When out and about, stay aware of your surroundings and try to stick to well-lit paths, especially during the evening and night.

Anti-social behaviour is the second most frequent issue in the area. Reporting incidents of nuisance or disruptive behaviour to the local council or police can help prevent these issues from escalating. For homeowners, the 'other theft' category suggests that opportunists may target unattended items; ensure that garden tools, bicycles, and deliveries are not left in plain sight. Given the 10.8% increase in crime, being part of a local community watch or simply staying in touch with neighbours about suspicious activity can significantly improve collective safety. Lastly, ensure all windows and doors are securely locked when you are away from home, even for short periods.

Crime in Heathfield shows clear temporal shifts. During the morning and afternoon, theft is the overwhelming concern, accounting for 66% and 68% of incidents respectively. This points to a high level of opportunistic crime during peak business and travel hours.

As the day transitions into evening and night, the profile of criminal activity changes. In the evening, 'other' crimes (which include anti-social behaviour and public order) rise to 56%. Most notably, the night-time period (12am - 6am) sees a significant jump in vehicle crime, which accounts for 22% of reports, and burglary, which rises to 14%. This suggests that while theft is a constant threat during the day, the risk to property and vehicles specifically increases under the cover of darkness. Residents should therefore prioritise securing vehicles and homes overnight, while remaining vigilant against opportunistic theft during the daytime.

Compared to its immediate neighbours, Heathfield has a more active crime profile. Its rate of 63.6 per 1,000 is notably higher than Bovey Tracey (35.3), Chudleigh Knighton (32.4), and Coldeast (29.2). It is also considerably busier than the village of Teigngrace, which recorded a 0.0 crime rate during the same period. This positioning suggests that Heathfield serves as a more central hub for activity in the area, which naturally draws a higher volume of reported incidents than the smaller, more secluded residential pockets nearby.

Heathfield’s property crime rate of 11.7 per 1,000 indicates that theft and burglary are present factors in the local community. For residents and business owners, relying on traditional reactive security—like cameras that simply record a crime while it’s happening—is often not enough to prevent loss.

The scOS platform offers a proactive alternative by using AI to detect threats at the property line. Instead of just providing footage of a burglary after the fact, scOS is designed to prevent the break-in from occurring. By monitoring all cameras simultaneously and identifying suspicious patterns, it can trigger autonomous deterrents like lights and speakers. In an area like Heathfield, where crime is currently on an upward trend, having a professional-grade system that actively intervenes is a powerful way to protect your property and ensure it doesn't become part of the local statistics.