Crime in Caversham, Reading: statistics, rates and trends

1,053 crimes were recorded in Caversham, Reading in the 12 months to July 2026, 77.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was shoplifting, with 355 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Caversham, Reading has the 1,949th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Caversham, Reading was highest in the year to July 2026 (1,053 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (730). Over the whole period it rose 33%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Caversham, Reading over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, bicycle theft.

The largest increases were in shoplifting (+58%) and criminal damage and arson (+13%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-31%) and vehicle crime (-27%).

Shoplifting in Caversham, Reading

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Caversham, Reading recorded 355 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 33.7% of all crime in the area.

Violence and sexual offences in Caversham, Reading

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Caversham, Reading recorded 251 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 23.8% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Caversham, Reading

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Caversham, Reading recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Caversham, Reading

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Caversham, Reading recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Caversham, Reading

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Caversham, Reading recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Caversham, Reading

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Caversham, Reading recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Caversham, Reading

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Caversham, Reading recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Caversham, Reading

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Caversham, Reading recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Caversham, Reading

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Caversham, Reading recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 108% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Caversham, Reading

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Caversham, Reading recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 77% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Caversham, Reading

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Caversham, Reading recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Caversham, Reading

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Caversham, Reading recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Caversham, Reading

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Caversham, Reading recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Caversham, Reading

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Caversham, Reading recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 71% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Caversham, Reading, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Caversham, Reading.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Caversham, Reading over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Caversham, Reading over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Caversham, Reading has an estimated population of 13,604. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Caversham, Reading sits in decile 7.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Caversham, Reading. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.