Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26

Crimes of dishonesty

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, the number of Crimes of dishonesty recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 6%, from 110,913 to 118,040 crimes. In the last 10 years, the number of Crimes of dishonesty has increased by 4% from 113,205 in 2016-17 to 118,040 in 2025-26.

Figure 12. Crimes of dishonesty have decreased significantly since a peak in 1991, but have been on an upward trend since 2020-21.

Crimes of dishonesty recorded by the police (000s), Scotland, 1971 to 1994, 1995-96 to 2025-26.

Note: Data are incomplete for 1975 due to local government reorganisation.

Figure 12 above shows the number of Crimes of dishonesty from 1971 onwards. Crimes of dishonesty were on a generally upward trend from 1971 and peaked in 1991. Since then, they were on a downward trend up to 2020-21, after which they have been on an upward trend. Despite recent increases, Crimes of dishonesty are down 73% from the peak in 1991.

The national rate of Crimes of dishonesty was 213 crimes per 10,000 population in 2025-26. This has increased from 200 crimes per 10,000 population in 2024-25, and 211 crimes per 10,000 population in 2016-17.

Figure 13. What makes up Crimes of dishonesty?

Proportions of Crimes of dishonesty by crime category, Scotland, 2025-26.

Figure 13 above shows the proportion of Crimes of dishonesty that each crime category represents in Scotland in 2025-26.

Figure 14 below presents the crime categories within Crimes of dishonesty over the latest 10 years and gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category.

Figure 14. This group has changed considerably, with rises in Shoplifting and Fraud and falls in Housebreaking and Other theft in the last 10 years.

Crimes of dishonesty recorded by the police showing the five largest categories, Scotland, 2016-17 to 2025-26.

Housebreaking

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Housebreaking decreased by 6% from 7,381 to 6,968 crimes. There was a 57% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 16,299 to 6,968 crimes.

Housebreaking has been in long-term decline since a peak of 116,130 recorded crimes in 1991 and is at the lowest level since 1971.

Theft by opening lockfast places

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Theft by opening lockfast places decreased by 15% from 1,431 to 1,215 crimes. There was a 37% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 1,940 to 1,215 crimes.

Theft from a motor vehicle

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Theft from a motor vehicle decreased by 17% from 1,857 to 1,537 crimes. There was a 60% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 3,888 to 1,537 crimes.

Theft from a motor vehicle has been in long-term decline since a peak of 81,218 recorded crimes in 1992 (the first year these crimes became separately identifiable within the statistics) and is now at the lowest level since then.

Theft of a motor vehicle

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Theft of a motor vehicle increased by 3% from 4,753 to 4,898 crimes. There was a 6% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 5,216 to 4,898 crimes.

The specific type of motor vehicle stolen cannot be determined from the standard data supplied by Police Scotland for these recorded crime statistics. However given  user interest, specifically around the theft of motorcycles, Police Scotland have provided management information which shows that based on the stolen property recorded, 752 motorcycles were recorded as stolen in 2025-26, and of those 381  (51%) were then recovered. The number of motorcycles stolen in 2025-26 decreased by 8% (or 64) from the 816 recorded in 2024-25, while the number of those recovered increased by 11% (or 37) from the 344 recorded in 2024-25.

It should be noted that not all thefts of a motorcycle will be recorded as Theft of a motor vehicle, they may also be recorded as Housebreaking, Theft by opening lockfast places or Other Theft, depending on the circumstances. The figures above relate to motorcycles stolen under any of these categories.

Shoplifting

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Shoplifting increased by 19% from 44,730 to 53,369 crimes. There was an 86% increase over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 28,650 to 53,369 crimes.

Shoplifting decreased considerably in 2020-21; this was likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic related restrictions. Since then, it has increased for five consecutive years and is now at the highest level since 1971.

Other theft

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Other theft decreased by 5% from 31,905 to 30,320 crimes. There was a 33% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 45,173 to 30,320 crimes.

Other theft consists of Theft of pedal cycles, Theft from a motor vehicle not elsewhere classified and Theft not elsewhere classified (excluding motor vehicles).

Other theft has been in long-term decline since a peak of 104,583 recorded crimes in 1991 and is now at the lowest level since 1971.

Fraud

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Fraud increased by 1% from 15,253 to 15,364 crimes. There was a 97% increase over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 7,811 to 15,364 crimes.

Much of the increase in Fraud since 2016-17 has related to cyber-crimes, which are estimated to account for around half of all Frauds (47%) in 2025-26. The estimated proportion of Fraud identified as cyber-enabled increased considerably after the Covid-19 pandemic and has remained higher than pre-pandemic levels. Information on this change is available in the Cyber-crime chapter.

Other dishonesty

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded crimes of Other dishonesty increased by 21% from 3,603 to 4,369 crimes. There was a 3% increase over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 4,228 to 4,369 crimes.