Osbaldwick Crime Rate

Osbaldwick maintains an impressive safety profile with an overall crime rate of 40.6 per 1,000 people, which is substantially lower than the UK average of 91.7. With a safety score of 93/100, it ranks as one of the more secure built-up areas in the York local authority. Furthermore, the crime trend is moving in a positive direction, showing a 17.2% decrease year-over-year. This data, covering the period from December 2024 to November 2025, highlights Osbaldwick as a low-crime suburb where residents can enjoy a high degree of personal and property security. The following analysis provides a deeper look into the specific types of crime and temporal patterns within the area.

Crime in Osbaldwick

Shoplifting is the most prevalent issue in Osbaldwick, accounting for 37.8% of all recorded incidents with 31 crimes. This is followed by anti-social behaviour (23.2%) and violence and sexual offences (17.1%). While these figures represent the bulk of local activity, the overall property crime rate—which aggregates burglary, robbery, theft, and vehicle crime—stands at 21.8 per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 32.3, suggesting that while retail-related offences are frequent, residential and personal property remains relatively secure compared to national norms. For homeowners, the low frequency of burglary (1.5 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.5 per 1,000) provides a high degree of reassurance, though the prominence of shoplifting suggests a need for vigilance in commercial areas.

Crime Trends in Osbaldwick

The crime rate in Osbaldwick is currently on a downward trajectory, with a notable 17.2% decrease in total offences compared to the previous year. Analysis of the monthly trend data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows a relatively stable environment for most of the year, with rates fluctuating between 2.0 and 4.0 per 1,000 for the majority of months. There was a significant spike in October 2025, where the rate reached 6.4, the highest in the 12-month period. However, this was followed by a sharp return to the baseline of 2.0 in November 2025. This volatility in the autumn suggests that specific, short-term factors may have influenced the stats temporarily. Overall, the consistent low figures throughout the spring and summer months reinforce Osbaldwick's status as an increasingly safe neighbourhood, with the year-on-year reduction providing a positive outlook for future safety.

How To Keep Safe in Osbaldwick

The most common crime in Osbaldwick is shoplifting, followed by anti-social behaviour. While the area is generally very safe, residents and local business owners can take several steps to maintain this security.

1. For local business owners, ensure that your shop floor layout has clear sightlines and that high-value items are not placed near exits to deter opportunistic shoplifters.
2. Residents should remain aware of their surroundings when using local amenities, particularly during the afternoon hours when commercial activity and associated offences are highest.
3. To combat anti-social behaviour, report any persistent issues to local neighbourhood policing teams to ensure that hotspots are monitored effectively.
4. Even though vehicle crime is extremely low, always double-check that your car is locked and that no valuables are left on display, as most local thefts are opportunistic.
5. Consider joining or forming a local Neighbourhood Watch group to share information and foster a stronger sense of community vigilance.

Crime Patterns in Osbaldwick

Crime in Osbaldwick follows distinct temporal patterns, largely influenced by its top offence, shoplifting. The morning and afternoon periods see the highest concentration of theft-related crimes, coinciding with the operating hours of local businesses. Specifically, 28% of morning crimes and 29% of afternoon crimes are classified as theft. Burglary patterns are also notable, with 32% of all burglaries occurring in the afternoon and another 32% during the night-time hours. Vehicle crime, while rare, is most likely to occur at night, accounting for 17% of offences in that period. Evening hours are dominated by "Other" crimes, which include anti-social behaviour, often peaking as daylight fades. Understanding these windows allows residents to be more targeted in their security habits, such as ensuring vehicles and homes are double-checked before the evening sets in.

When comparing Osbaldwick to its immediate neighbours, it sits in a mid-range of high-safety areas. It is considerably safer than the city of York, which has a much higher crime rate of 116.4 per 1,000 people. It is slightly less safe than Dunnington (29.4 per 1,000), while nearby Murton and Heslington both reported zero crimes per 1,000 people in the same period. This context places Osbaldwick as a very secure residential option within the wider York region, offering a peaceful suburban alternative to the busier city centre while maintaining a lower crime profile than many surrounding settlements.

Home Security in Osbaldwick

With a property crime rate of 21.8 per 1,000, Osbaldwick is significantly safer than the national average, yet the presence of burglary and vehicle crime, however low, warrants a professional approach to security. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, are often reactive, providing footage of an incident after it has occurred. In a high-safety area like Osbaldwick, the goal should be to maintain that security through prevention.

The scOS AI-powered operating system shifts the focus from recording to proactive protection. By using multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundaries, scOS can identify potential threats before they reach your door. Features like DVLA vehicle verification and autonomous responses—such as activating lights or speakers—destroy the element of surprise for opportunistic criminals. For residents in Osbaldwick, investing in proactive AI detection ensures that your home remains a hard target, encouraging potential intruders to move on before any damage is done. Protecting your home is about stopping the crime, not just watching it happen.