Newton Abbot Crime Rate

Newton Abbot is a major market town in Teignbridge with a safety score of 79/100, which aligns with the UK average. The town's overall crime rate is 86.4 per 1,000 people, sitting slightly below the national average of 91.6. The crime trend in Newton Abbot is currently stable, showing a marginal decrease of 0.5% over the last year. While the town serves as a busy commercial and transport hub, its property crime rate of 24.8 per 1,000 remains lower than the UK average of 32.2. This data suggests that while Newton Abbot experiences more criminal activity than its surrounding rural villages, it remains a relatively secure urban centre for its 30,852 residents.

In Newton Abbot, violence and sexual offences are the most frequently recorded crimes, accounting for 42.5% of total incidents at a rate of 36.8 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue (16.7%), followed by shoplifting, which is notably high at 9.3% of all crime.

Property crime in the town—including burglary, theft, and vehicle crime—stands at 24.8 per 1,000 people. This is lower than the UK average of 32.2, but higher than the Teignbridge district average. Shoplifting is a significant contributor to this, with 249 incidents reported. Burglary occurs at a rate of 2.0 per 1,000, and vehicle crime at 1.6 per 1,000. For residents, this suggests that while the town is generally safe, the commercial centre experiences higher levels of theft, and homeowners should remain vigilant about securing their property against opportunistic theft and criminal damage.

Newton Abbot's crime trend is stable, with a negligible 0.5% decrease year-over-year. Analysis of the monthly data for 2025 reveals a fluctuating but controlled pattern. The year began with a crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 in January, rising to 7.5 in February and remaining steady through the spring.

The town saw its highest levels of activity during the early summer, peaking at 8.1 per 1,000 in June. This was followed by a consistent period of activity through July, August, and September, where rates remained between 7.6 and 7.7. A downward trend emerged in the final quarter of the year, with the crime rate dropping to 6.8 in October and reaching its annual low of 5.3 in December. This end-of-year decline is a positive indicator for the town's safety heading into the new year, suggesting that while summer peaks occur, the overall environment remains well-managed.

How To Keep Safe in Newton Abbot

The most prevalent crime in Newton Abbot is violence and sexual offences, followed by anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. As a busy market town, safety is best maintained through awareness and proactive property protection.

1. Town Centre Awareness: When visiting the town centre, especially during the evening and night, stay in well-lit areas and be mindful of your surroundings. The evening hours see a higher proportion of public order and anti-social behaviour incidents.
2. Retail Security: For business owners, shoplifting is a significant factor (9.3% of all crime). Implementing visible security measures and staff training on loss prevention can help mitigate the impact of business-related crime.
3. Night-time Property Checks: With burglary and vehicle crime peaking between 12am and 6am, ensure all home and vehicle security measures are fully engaged before retiring for the night. Proactive boundary lighting can be a major deterrent.
4. Secure Your Vehicle: Vehicle crime accounts for 23% of offences during the night-time period. Never leave valuables on display and always ensure your vehicle is parked in a secure, well-lit location if possible.

Crime in Newton Abbot follows distinct temporal patterns. During the morning (6am - 12pm), theft-related offences are prominent, accounting for 48% of activity as the town's retail and commercial sectors open. This trend intensifies in the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), where theft offences peak at 52%, reflecting the town's high footfall during peak shopping hours.

As the day transitions into the evening (6pm - 12am), there is a significant shift toward 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order offences, which make up 59% of the recorded incidents in this period. The night-time hours (12am - 6am) see a rise in property-related crime; burglaries reach their peak at 18% of the period's total, and vehicle crime hits its highest point at 23%. This suggests that while daytime crime is largely opportunistic and retail-focused, the hours of darkness pose a greater risk to residential property and vehicles.

Newton Abbot serves as the primary urban and commercial centre for the local area, which is reflected in its higher crime rate of 86.4 per 1,000 people. In comparison, the nearby town of Kingsteignton has a lower rate of 52.4, while the village of Abbotskerswell is significantly quieter at 19.0. Both East Ogwell and Denbury report 0.0 crimes per 1,000 in this dataset. This comparison shows that as the regional hub, Newton Abbot attracts more footfall and economic activity, which naturally leads to a higher volume of recorded incidents—particularly shoplifting and anti-social behaviour—than its smaller, more residential neighbours.

Home and business security in Newton Abbot should be a priority, particularly given the town's role as a commercial centre. With a property crime rate of 24.8 per 1,000, there is a clear need for effective deterrence. Traditional CCTV systems often only provide footage of a crime after it has been committed, which does little to prevent the initial loss or damage.

scOS offers a proactive alternative by using AI-powered intelligence to detect threats at the property boundary. For Newton Abbot residents, this means the system can identify suspicious activity in real-time, long before a break-in occurs. With features like multi-camera coordination and autonomous responses—such as activating high-intensity lights or audio warnings—scOS destroys the element of surprise that burglars rely on. This level of professional security signals to potential intruders that your property is well-protected, making them more likely to move on. In an area where burglary and vehicle crime peak at night, having an AI that never blinks provides the ultimate peace of mind.