Car theft and vehicle crime in Barnsley
220 vehicle crimes were reported to South Yorkshire Police within about a mile of Barnsley from October 2025 to September 2026. Recent months have been broadly steady: 48 offences in the latest quarter against 46 previously.
Barnsley month by month
Counts ranged from 11 in June 2026 up to 27 in December 2025. The later six months came in 25% lower than the first six. Average: 18.3 a month.
| Month | Offences | vs 12-month average |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 19 | +1 |
| Nov 2025 | 20 | +2 |
| Dec 2025 | 27 | +9 |
| Jan 2026 | 21 | +3 |
| Feb 2026 | 20 | +2 |
| Mar 2026 | 19 | +1 |
| Apr 2026 | 22 | +4 |
| May 2026 | 13 | -5 |
| Jun 2026 | 11 | -7 |
| Jul 2026 | 13 | -5 |
| Aug 2026 | 14 | -4 |
| Sep 2026 | 21 | +3 |
How Barnsley compares
Barnsley sits at number 57 of 84 on our table, with 18 offences a month: close to the typical town in our set. By contrast Cardiff recorded 116 a month.
Over the latest three months the one-mile circle around Barnsley averaged 16 vehicle offences a month. Roughly 20% of sampled British postcodes recorded more than central Barnsley. For context we counted the same one-mile radius around 400 random postcodes nationwide (Jul 2026, Aug 2026, Sep 2026). Test your own street with the free theft risk checker.
Within the South Yorkshire Police area, Barnsley ranks 4 of the 4 centres we track at 18 offences a month. The others: Sheffield (52), Doncaster (42), Rotherham (24).
Towns nearest to Barnsley
- Wakefield (9 miles away): 22 a month, 20% more than Barnsley
- Rotherham (10 miles away): 24 a month, 31% more than Barnsley
- Sheffield (12 miles away): 52 a month, 183% more than Barnsley
Where in Barnsley offences were recorded
Just five locations make up 15% of the 220 offences recorded around Barnsley.
- On or near Parking Area: 10
- On or near Petrol Station: 7
- On or near Hanson Street: 5
- On or near Nightclub: 5
- On or near Shopping Area: 5
What happened to Barnsley cases
The most common recorded outcome near Barnsley was "investigation complete; no suspect identified" (169 cases).
| Outcome | Offences | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 169 | 77% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 31 | 14% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 3% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 2% |
| Under investigation | 5 | 2% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1% |
What this means if you park near Barnsley
Barnsley sees around 18 vehicle offences a month: low by city standards, yet thieves target the most valuable cars first. Expect pressure to build again around December, the worst month in this data.
Against the 220 offences logged here in a year, an aftermarket immobiliser slows thieves who clone or relay keys, and an S5 or S7 tracker covers you if they still get away. See installation options.
Barnsley car theft questions
How much car crime is there in Barnsley?
In the year to September 2026, 220 vehicle crimes were logged inside a mile of central Barnsley: about 18 every month, placing it 57 of the 84 towns we track (among the lower end).
When was vehicle crime worst in Barnsley?
The worst month was December 2025 (27). The quietest was June 2026 (11), and September 2026 came in at 21.
Are car thieves caught in Barnsley?
Rarely. 77% of the Barnsley cases (169 of 220) ended with no suspect identified, while 10 showed a court or charge outcome. Stopping the theft, or recovering the car fast, is the realistic defence.
Does this cover stolen cars only in Barnsley?
Not only. The 220 Barnsley offences combine cars stolen outright, items taken from vehicles and tampering, because police.uk publishes them as one vehicle crime category.
Source: police.uk, centred on 53.5526, -1.4797, retrieved 2026-11-06. Method and limits.