Mobile Phone Thefts Plunge Across Somerset
Police data shows an 84% drop since 2019, with Shepton Mallet, Taunton, and Bridgwater seeing the most incidents
Mobile phone thefts in Somerset have fallen sharply in recent years, with new data revealing a dramatic 84% drop since 2019. Avon and Somerset Police figures show 31 reported thefts of mobile phones and accessories in 2019, compared with just five in 2024, and only two so far this year.
Despite the overall decline, some towns recorded more incidents than others. Shepton Mallet had the highest number of thefts over the seven-year period, with 35, followed by Taunton with 23 and Bridgwater with 16. Yeovil, Pilton, and Frome also reported smaller numbers of incidents.
Most theft cases go unsolved. Out of 119 incidents recorded between 2019 and August 2025, only seven led to cautions or were otherwise recorded as having a suspect identified, and just one resulted in a guilty verdict at a magistrates’ court.
The decline has been particularly steep after 2022, when cases fell from 31 to 23, then plummeted to five in 2024.
Police advise residents to safeguard their devices. Even with the significant drop, theft remains an occasional risk, particularly in the towns with higher numbers of past incidents.
The figures highlight a clear overall decrease in mobile phone thefts across Somerset while showing the areas where most cases have historically been reported.