North Kesteven, South Holland and Rutland among safest from pickpockets

Areas of Lincolnshire and Rutland are some of the safest in the UK when it comes to pickpocketing.

North Kesteven, South Holland and Rutland are three of the areas with the lowest rate of the crime.

With just four reports of thefts from person in North Kesteven from Marc 2023 to March 2024, the district is classed as the safest in the UK due to 0.03 reports per 1,000 people with residents artfully dodging the criminals.

In second spot is Lancashire’s Ribble Valley with 5 (0.08) reports.

South Holland is third safest in the UK with 9 (0.09) reports and also came fifth in the chart of areas with the highest decrease in pickpocketing incidents, down 40%.

Rutland came fourth in the standings with 4 offences (0.10) reported.

Westminster has been named the UK’s pickpocketing capital. Between March 2023 and 2024, the London borough reported over 28,000 theft from the person incidents which is equivalent to 133.21 incidents per 1,000 people.

Outside of London, the UK area with the highest pickpocketing rate is Manchester, recording more than 4,500 thefts from the person incidents, equivalent to 7.97 per 1,000 people.

Security experts Get Licensed carried out research to reveal where in the UK people are most at risk of being pickpocketed.

CEO Shahzad Ali said: “Last year, over 100,000 reports of theft-from-the-person were filed, highlighting the sheer scale of the epidemic in the UK.

“Therefore, it’s crucial that people across the country know how to keep themselves and their belongings safe from pickpockets.

“The type of bag you use, especially in high-risk areas, can determine your own risk level. It’s best to use a zip-up bag that you can wear across your body to reduce the chances of someone snatching it from your shoulder.

“If you are carrying more, such as a backpack, keep important belongings, such as a wallet, phone and keys, in a smaller cross-body bag to keep them closer to you.”