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Sussex Police · East Sussex

Car Theft & Vehicle Crime in Brighton

Live street-level vehicle crime for Brighton from Sussex Police: how many incidents were recorded near the centre, how that compares with the national picture, and where they cluster.

Brighton (East Sussex)

Vehicle crime within a 1-mile radius (~3.1 sq miles) of BN11EE (Brighton and Hove)

SussexLatest police data: August 2026

Police.uk publishes each month's records about two months later, so this is as fresh as official data gets.

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Vehicle crime riskSEVERE
43incidents in August

13.7 per square mile

LowModerateHighSevere

About 31× the England & Wales average of 0.45 per sq mile a month

How we work this out

Incidents per square mile a month: Low under 1, Moderate 1 to 3, High 3 to 8, Severe 8 or more. The England & Wales average (0.45) includes countryside, so most towns sit above it. Source: ONS Crime in England and Wales, year ending March 2026: 312,250 police recorded vehicle offences.

Month on monthFalling
-4vs July 2026
June
36
July
47
August
43
Police outcomes
79.1%closed with no suspect identified
Investigation complete; no suspect identified34
Under investigation8
Unable to prosecute suspect1

Recent cases are often still under investigation, so this figure tends to rise as months close.

Where it happened

Every vehicle crime pinned in the last 3 months. The bigger the dot, the more reports at that spot. Zoom in with two fingers or Ctrl + scroll.

Most reported streets

Last 3 months (June–August)

1On or near Wellington Road
4
2On or near Cannon Place
3
3On or near Black Lion Street
2
4On or near Brills Lane
2
5On or near Brunswick Square
2

Police.uk pins each crime to an anonymised point near where it happened, not an exact address.

Security checklist

Matched to this area's risk level

  • Use a Faraday pouch or box for keyless car fobs to block relay signal amplifiers.
  • Fit a Sold Secure / Thatcham-approved steering wheel lock as a highly visible mechanical deterrent.
  • Consider fitting a Ghost immobiliser or Thatcham Cat S5 tracker with remote kill switch.
  • Park under street lighting or in view of domestic CCTV/video doorbells where possible.
  • Lock OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) ports or fit an OBD port blocker to prevent key cloning.

Car theft in Brighton: quick answers

How common is car theft in Brighton?

In August 2026, police recorded 43 vehicle crimes within a mile of central Brighton (13.7 per square mile, rated severe). About 31× the England & Wales average of 0.45 per sq mile a month. Search your own postcode above for your street.

Which police force covers vehicle crime in Brighton?

Brighton is policed by Sussex Police. Report a theft that's happening now on 999; otherwise report online through the force's website or call 101.

Where does car crime happen most in Brighton?

The most reported streets above cover the last three months of police.uk data. Police.uk pins each crime to an anonymised point near where it happened, so treat them as areas to be careful in rather than exact addresses.

Understanding Brighton Vehicle Crime Data

When checking vehicle crime statistics for Brighton, it's worth knowing how Sussex Police and the Home Office actually log these things. Our radar displays data that groups three lovely types of offences under one big "Vehicle Crime" category:

  • Theft of a motor vehicle: The classic "dude, where's my car?" complete theft of a vehicle.
  • Theft from a motor vehicle: Break-ins where stuff is nicked from the cabin, or parts are stripped from the exterior.
  • Vehicle interference: Attempted break-ins, tampering, or chancers trying door handles without getting in.

Because the police lump these together to protect victim privacy, we can't magically separate a smashed window from a stolen car in the stats. But hey, our hyper-local analysis still gives you a solid read on the overall sketchy-ness of any street in Brighton.

Protecting Your Ride (and Your Wallet)

If you're researching Brighton because you're about to buy a used car locally, do yourself a solid and check its history before handing over the cash. Run it through our Free MOT History Check to make sure it's not a complete lemon.

Also, if you're venturing across East Sussex or the rest of the UK, why pay premium prices for fuel? Roger that, we've got you covered. Check the latest prices on our UK Petrol & Fuel Price Tracker and save those extra quid for a decent coffee.

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