Moretonhampstead Crime Rate

Moretonhampstead is a secure and historic moorland town in South Devon, currently holding a high safety score of 85/100. The town's overall crime rate is 51.5 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the UK national average of 91.7. While the crime trend has shown a notable 60.7% increase over the past year, Moretonhampstead remains a statistically safe place for its 1,749 inhabitants. Located within Dartmoor National Park, Moretonhampstead offers a peaceful and low-crime environment. With property crime rates significantly below national norms and extremely low burglary and vehicle crime, it is a highly desirable location for families and those seeking a secure lifestyle. The following sections provide a detailed analysis of local crime types, trends, and safety insights.

Crime Breakdown in Moretonhampstead

Violence and sexual offences are the most common reports in Moretonhampstead, accounting for 59 crimes or 33.7 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 5.7 per 1,000 and a combined frequency of criminal damage and public order (both at 2.9 per 1,000). These figures reflect a quiet and secure moorland town environment.

Property crime in Moretonhampstead, including burglary, theft, and vehicle crime, is very low at 7.4 per 1,000 people. This is less than a quarter of the UK national average of 32.3. Within this category, 'other theft' and shoplifting are the most frequent, while burglary and vehicle crime are reported as extremely rare, both affecting only 0.6 per 1,000 residents. For homeowners, these figures reflect a very secure environment where property-related offences are infrequent. However, the prevalence of 'other theft' and criminal damage suggests that maintaining property boundaries and securing outbuildings remains a sensible precaution.

Crime Trends in Moretonhampstead

The crime trend in Moretonhampstead is currently increasing, with a significant 60.7% rise in reported incidents over the past year. While the town remains safer than the UK average, this upward movement suggests a need for residents to be more proactive about their personal and property security.

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 1.1 in December and January and a peak of 8.6 in June. After a very quiet start to the year, activity increased sharply in the spring and remained elevated throughout the summer and autumn months, peaking in June. The year ended with a rate of 6.3 in November. This pattern suggests that while the overall crime rate is low, there has been a sustained increase in activity since the early spring. For residents, this highlights the importance of maintaining consistent security measures year-round.

How To Keep Safe in Moretonhampstead

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

In a residential moorland town like Moretonhampstead, 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 with vehicles, keeping valuables out of sight and ensuring your vehicle is securely locked is a sensible precaution, even though vehicle crime is very low.

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 Moretonhampstead. 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 Moretonhampstead

Crime in Moretonhampstead follows a distinct daily pattern. The afternoon hours (12pm-6pm) are the most active for theft-related offences, which account for 49% 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 public order, which make up 59% of reports, while vehicle crime and burglary also rise to 8% and 10% respectively.

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, vehicle crime reaches its highest relative frequency at 23% of incidents, and burglary is also at its peak at 15%. Morning hours (6am-12pm) see a high percentage of theft (45%) 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 during the afternoon is key to deterring opportunistic thieves. The low overall incident numbers mean that even small increases in specific periods are statistically notable.

In the local context, Moretonhampstead's crime rate of 51.5 is higher than the nearby town of Chagford (19.7). It has a similar safety profile to other quiet residential areas in Teignbridge, and while it is higher than tiny villages like Lustleigh, Cheriton Bishop, or Christow (all 0.0), it remains a secure choice for the region. For those seeking a quiet, moorland lifestyle within a safe environment, Moretonhampstead offers a statistically excellent residential setting that is significantly safer than larger Devon towns.

For residents of Moretonhampstead, property protection is about maintaining the town's high safety standards. While the property crime rate is low at 7.4 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 or vehicle theft.

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 or vehicle. 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 Moretonhampstead, where vehicle crime and burglary are relatively more frequent overnight, this professional-grade deterrence is the most effective way to prevent crime and ensure your property remains a hard target for opportunistic thieves.