Crime in Thatcham: statistics, rates and trends

1,695 crimes were recorded in Thatcham in the 12 months to July 2026, 66.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 771 reports (45% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Thatcham has the 848th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Thatcham was highest in the year to July 2025 (1,846 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (1,407). Over the whole period it rose 20%, 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 Thatcham 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. The largest increases were in other crime (+40%) and other theft (+12%). The largest falls were in burglary (-47%) and vehicle crime (-45%).

Violence and sexual offences in Thatcham

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Thatcham recorded 771 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 45.5% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Thatcham

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Thatcham recorded 257 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 15.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Thatcham

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Thatcham recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Thatcham

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Thatcham recorded 105 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Thatcham

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Thatcham recorded 101 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 16% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Thatcham

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Thatcham recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Thatcham

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Thatcham recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Thatcham

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Thatcham recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Thatcham

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Thatcham recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Thatcham

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Thatcham recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Thatcham

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Thatcham recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 31% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Thatcham

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Thatcham recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Thatcham

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Thatcham recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Thatcham

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Thatcham recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

4 areas within Thatcham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Thatcham Central had the highest rate (92.8 per 1,000) and Thatcham Colthrop & Crookham the lowest (22.6). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Thatcham over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Thatcham 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.

Thatcham has an estimated population of 25,528. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Thatcham sits in decile 7.9, 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 Thatcham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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