Car theft and vehicle crime in Exeter
Between October 2025 and September 2026, Devon and Cornwall Police logged 147 vehicle offences inside a one-mile radius of Exeter. The most recent quarter brought 28 offences, 35% fewer than the 43 in the quarter before it.
Exeter month by month
February 2026 stands out at 20 recorded offences, while October 2025 dropped to 7. Offences fell 7% between the two halves of the period. Average: 12.2 a month.
| Month | Offences | vs 12-month average |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 7 | -5 |
| Nov 2025 | 7 | -5 |
| Dec 2025 | 14 | +2 |
| Jan 2026 | 11 | -1 |
| Feb 2026 | 20 | +8 |
| Mar 2026 | 17 | +5 |
| Apr 2026 | 14 | +2 |
| May 2026 | 17 | +5 |
| Jun 2026 | 12 | -0 |
| Jul 2026 | 8 | -4 |
| Aug 2026 | 12 | -0 |
| Sep 2026 | 8 | -4 |
How Exeter compares
Out of the 84 areas we track, Exeter ranks 69 for monthly vehicle crime at 12 a month, around 48% below the typical town in our set. Cardiff averaged 116.
Over the latest three months the one-mile circle around Exeter averaged 9 vehicle offences a month. Roughly 28% of sampled British postcodes recorded more than central Exeter. 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 Devon and Cornwall Police area, Exeter ranks 2 of the 2 centres we track at 12 offences a month. The others: Plymouth (29).
Towns nearest to Exeter
- Plymouth (36 miles away): 29 a month, 139% more than Exeter
- Cardiff (55 miles away): 116 a month, 843% more than Exeter
- Newport (64 miles away): 38 a month, 208% more than Exeter
Where in Exeter offences were recorded
These five police.uk map points account for 20% of the offences near Exeter.
- On or near Parking Area: 15
- On or near Waterloo Road: 5
- On or near Tudor Court: 4
- On or near Barbican Steps: 3
- On or near Francis Close: 3
What happened to Exeter cases
The most common recorded outcome near Exeter was "investigation complete; no suspect identified" (87 cases).
| Outcome | Offences | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 87 | 59% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 36 | 24% |
| Under investigation | 11 | 7% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 6% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1 | 1% |
What this means if you park near Exeter
Exeter sees around 12 vehicle offences a month: low by city standards, yet thieves target the most valuable cars first. February was the local peak, which is worth remembering when you plan where to park.
Against the 147 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.
Exeter car theft questions
How much car crime is there in Exeter?
In the year to September 2026, 147 vehicle crimes were logged inside a mile of central Exeter: about 12 every month, placing it 69 of the 84 towns we track (among the lower end).
When was vehicle crime worst in Exeter?
The worst month was February 2026 (20). The quietest was October 2025 (7), and September 2026 came in at 8.
Are car thieves caught in Exeter?
Police.uk shows 87 of 147 Exeter cases (59%) closed without a suspect and 3 with a court-stage outcome, so an owner is far better served by an immobiliser and tracker than by the odds of a conviction.
Does this cover stolen cars only in Exeter?
The Exeter total of 147 includes thefts of vehicles, thefts from them and interference: police.uk does not split these at street level, so treat it as all car crime rather than stolen cars only.
Source: police.uk, centred on 50.7184, -3.5339, retrieved 2026-11-06. Method and limits.