Car theft and vehicle crime in Blackburn
Police recorded 258 vehicle crimes within about a mile of Blackburn between October 2025 and September 2026. The last three months (69) ran 41% above the three before (49), so the recent direction is up.
Blackburn month by month
October 2025 stands out at 30 recorded offences, while June 2026 dropped to 11. The second half was 16% quieter than the first. Average: 21.5 a month.
| Month | Offences | vs 12-month average |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30 | +8 |
| Nov 2025 | 25 | +4 |
| Dec 2025 | 18 | -4 |
| Jan 2026 | 24 | +2 |
| Feb 2026 | 21 | -0 |
| Mar 2026 | 22 | +0 |
| Apr 2026 | 16 | -6 |
| May 2026 | 22 | +0 |
| Jun 2026 | 11 | -10 |
| Jul 2026 | 20 | -2 |
| Aug 2026 | 30 | +8 |
| Sep 2026 | 19 | -2 |
How Blackburn compares
Out of the 84 areas we track, Blackburn ranks 50 for monthly vehicle crime at 22 a month, close to the typical town in our set. Cardiff averaged 116.
Over the latest three months the one-mile circle around Blackburn averaged 23 vehicle offences a month. Roughly 16% of sampled British postcodes recorded more than central Blackburn. Our benchmark is 400 random postcodes from England, Scotland and Wales, counted with the same one-mile method over Jul 2026, Aug 2026, Sep 2026. Test your own street with the free theft risk checker.
Within the Lancashire Constabulary area, Blackburn ranks 3 of the 3 centres we track at 22 offences a month. The others: Blackpool (30), Preston (30).
Towns nearest to Blackburn
- Preston (9 miles away): 30 a month, 39% more than Blackburn
- Blackpool (23 miles away): 30 a month, 41% more than Blackburn
- Warrington (25 miles away): 11 a month, 47% fewer than Blackburn
Where in Blackburn offences were recorded
Just five locations make up 10% of the 258 offences recorded around Blackburn.
- On or near Parking Area: 10
- On or near High Street: 5
- On or near Chicken Street: 4
- On or near Havelock Close: 4
- On or near Higher Bank Street: 4
What happened to Blackburn cases
The most common recorded outcome near Blackburn was "investigation complete; no suspect identified" (198 cases).
| Outcome | Offences | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 198 | 77% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 32 | 12% |
| Under investigation | 11 | 4% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 4% |
| Status update unavailable | 4 | 2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1 | 0% |
What this means if you park near Blackburn
A rate near 22 a month makes Blackburn a lower-volume area, which is when an unprotected premium car stands out. Numbers have climbed recently, so review how your vehicle is protected before the next October.
For a car kept near Blackburn, layering helps: an immobiliser to stop the engine starting, and a certified tracker for recovery if it goes anyway. See installation options.
Blackburn car theft questions
How much car crime is there in Blackburn?
258 in the latest 12 months (22 a month on average) within roughly a mile of the Blackburn centre. Of our 84 towns, Blackburn comes 50, in the middle end of the table.
When was vehicle crime worst in Blackburn?
The worst month was October 2025 (30). The quietest was June 2026 (11), and September 2026 came in at 19.
Are car thieves caught in Blackburn?
Of the 258 offences, 198 (77%) were closed with no suspect identified, and 11 reached a court or charge stage on police.uk. Prevention and recovery tracking matter more than hoping for an arrest.
Does this cover stolen cars only in Blackburn?
Not only. The 258 Blackburn 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 53.7486, -2.4875, retrieved 2026-11-06. Method and limits.