More Than 150 Crimes Recorded in Penrith During May
A total of 152 crimes and anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded across the Penrith Town policing area during May 2026, according to the latest figures published by Police.uk.
Violence and sexual offences were the most common category, with 70 reports. Shoplifting was the second most frequently recorded offence, followed by public order incidents and vehicle crime.
The May total was 32 higher than the 120 reports recorded during April, representing an increase of around 27% from the previous month.
Crime Reached Its Highest Level Since August
The 152 reports recorded during May were the highest monthly total in Penrith since August 2025, when 164 crimes and anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded.
Crime levels in the town had remained between 120 and 135 reports per month during the first four months of 2026 before rising in May.
| Month | Recorded incidents |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | 122 |
| February 2026 | 135 |
| March 2026 | 134 |
| April 2026 | 120 |
| May 2026 | 152 |
May accounted for 9.4% of all incidents recorded in Penrith during the latest 12-month period.
Violence and Sexual Offences Were the Largest Category
Police recorded 70 violence and sexual offences in Penrith during May.
This represented just over 46% of all reports recorded across the town during the month.
The category covers a wide range of offences. These can include harassment, common assault and more serious violent or sexual crimes. The public figures do not provide details about the circumstances or severity of each individual incident.
Full Breakdown of Crimes Recorded in May
The 152 reports were divided into the following categories:
| Crime category | Number recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 70 |
| Shoplifting | 20 |
| Public order | 12 |
| Vehicle crime | 10 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 9 |
| Other theft | 9 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 6 |
| Drugs | 5 |
| Other crime | 5 |
| Possession of weapons | 2 |
| Bicycle theft | 1 |
| Burglary | 1 |
| Robbery | 1 |
| Theft from the person | 1 |
| Total | 152 |
No separate category recorded more than 20 reports apart from violence and sexual offences.
Twenty Shoplifting Offences Reported
Shoplifting was the second-largest category, with 20 offences recorded during May.
Penrith acts as a retail centre for a much wider rural area and includes supermarkets, town-centre shops and retail parks.
The published figures do not identify which individual businesses were affected. Locations shown on public crime maps are anonymised and moved to nearby streets or landmarks rather than displaying exact addresses.
Vehicle Crime Among the Most Common Offences
Ten vehicle crimes were reported in Penrith during May, making it the fourth most common category.
Vehicle crime can include theft of a vehicle, attempted theft and the theft of property from inside a vehicle.
There were also nine other theft offences and one theft from the person. Other theft can cover incidents that do not fall within categories such as shoplifting, burglary or vehicle crime.
Public Order and Criminal Damage Reports
Twelve public order offences were recorded during the month.
Public order offences can include threatening or abusive behaviour, disorder and incidents likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Police also recorded nine cases of criminal damage and arson. This category may include damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and public property, as well as reported arson offences.
Five Drug Offences and Two Weapons Reports
Five drug offences were recorded across Penrith during May, along with two possession-of-weapons offences.
The statistics do not show what substances or weapons were involved or whether the reports were connected.
Possession-of-weapons figures can include several types of prohibited item and should not automatically be treated as knife offences.
More Than Half of Cases Still Under Investigation
A total of 82 offences, or almost 54% of May’s reports, were still under investigation when the latest figures were published.
The recorded outcomes were:
- 82 offences under investigation
- 33 cases where police were unable to prosecute a suspect
- 20 investigations completed without a suspect being identified
- Six cases dealt with through a local resolution
- Five cases awaiting a court outcome
- Six recorded under other outcomes
These figures provide a snapshot at the time the data was released. Outcomes can change as investigations progress, further evidence is gathered or cases reach court.
Police Focused on Penrith’s Night-Time Economy
Operation Regulate was listed as one of Penrith’s local policing priorities during this period.
The operation focuses on safety within the town’s night-time economy, including alcohol-related disorder, violence, sexual offences and anti-social behaviour.
Cumbria Police said uniformed and plain-clothes officers would be deployed at key times, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable people and tackling violence against women and girls.
What the Crime Figures Show
The figures cover the Penrith Town neighbourhood policing area and should not be treated as a list of individual incidents.
One event can lead to more than one recorded crime, while incidents that are not reported to police will not appear in the figures.
Police.uk also anonymises the locations of offences. Reports shown on its crime map are placed near the centre of a street or at a nearby public location to protect victims and avoid identifying exact addresses.
Anyone who witnesses a crime taking place or believes somebody is in immediate danger should call 999. Non-emergency crimes and information can be reported to Cumbria Police online or by calling 101.
