Car theft and vehicle crime in Swindon
281 vehicle crimes were reported to Wiltshire Police within about a mile of Swindon from October 2025 to September 2026. The most recent quarter brought 44 offences, 28% fewer than the 61 in the quarter before it.
Swindon month by month
January 2026 stands out at 46 recorded offences, while June 2026 dropped to 7. The second half was 40% quieter than the first. Average: 23.4 a month.
| Month | Offences | vs 12-month average |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24 | +1 |
| Nov 2025 | 27 | +4 |
| Dec 2025 | 15 | -8 |
| Jan 2026 | 46 | +23 |
| Feb 2026 | 34 | +11 |
| Mar 2026 | 30 | +7 |
| Apr 2026 | 43 | +20 |
| May 2026 | 11 | -12 |
| Jun 2026 | 7 | -16 |
| Jul 2026 | 14 | -9 |
| Aug 2026 | 14 | -9 |
| Sep 2026 | 16 | -7 |
How Swindon compares
Out of the 84 areas we track, Swindon ranks 42 for monthly vehicle crime at 23 a month, close to the typical town in our set. Cardiff averaged 116.
Over the latest three months the one-mile circle around Swindon averaged 15 vehicle offences a month. Roughly 22% of sampled British postcodes recorded more than central Swindon. The comparison uses 400 randomly chosen British postcodes, each measured over Jul 2026, Aug 2026, Sep 2026 exactly as Swindon is here. Test your own street with the free theft risk checker.
Swindon is the only Wiltshire Police area on our list. Across the 8 South West towns we track it ranks 4 for vehicle crime per month.
Towns nearest to Swindon
- Oxford (26 miles away): 11 a month, 54% fewer than Swindon
- Cheltenham (27 miles away): 13 a month, 46% fewer than Swindon
- Bath (28 miles away): 21 a month, 11% fewer than Swindon
Where in Swindon offences were recorded
These five police.uk map points account for 19% of the offences near Swindon.
- On or near Parking Area: 26
- On or near Petrol Station: 9
- On or near Newburn Crescent: 7
- On or near Bridge Street: 5
- On or near Farnsby Street: 5
What happened to Swindon cases
The most common recorded outcome near Swindon was "investigation complete; no suspect identified" (196 cases).
| Outcome | Offences | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 196 | 70% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 29 | 10% |
| Under investigation | 21 | 7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 14 | 5% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 4% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 4% |
What this means if you park near Swindon
Swindon sees around 23 vehicle offences a month: low by city standards, yet thieves target the most valuable cars first. January was the local peak, which is worth remembering when you plan where to park.
Against the 281 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.
Swindon car theft questions
How much car crime is there in Swindon?
Police recorded 281 vehicle offences within about a mile of central Swindon in the 12 months to September 2026, an average of 23 a month. That ranks 42 of 84 towns on our list, in the middle end.
When was vehicle crime worst in Swindon?
The worst month was January 2026 (46). The quietest was June 2026 (7), and September 2026 came in at 16.
Are car thieves caught in Swindon?
Police.uk shows 196 of 281 Swindon cases (70%) closed without a suspect and 24 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 Swindon?
No. Police.uk counts theft of a vehicle, theft from a vehicle and vehicle interference together as vehicle crime, so the 281 figure for Swindon is wider than stolen cars alone.
Source: police.uk, centred on 51.5558, -1.7797, retrieved 2026-11-06. Method and limits.