If you've ever nervously double-checked your car doors in Glastonbury or returned to your van in Frome with a sense of dread — turns out, you might have good reason.

New police data has revealed which parts of Mendip see the most vehicle crime, from theft and break-ins to damage and attempted interference. And while nowhere in the area tops national charts, some neighbourhoods are definitely more risky than others when it comes to where you park.

Frome North West is the local hotspot, with 30 vehicle offences recorded in 2024, giving it the highest rate in Mendip at 3.4 crimes per 1,000 people. That means statistically, nearly one in every 300 residents had their vehicle stolen, damaged, or broken into last year.

Close behind is Glastonbury Town, with 24 reported offences — a rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents. It's not exactly a crime wave, but it puts Glastonbury above Wells, Shepton Mallet and Street for car-related trouble.

Wells Town isn't far off, logging 23 offences and a rate of 2.7 per 1,000. Meanwhile, Shepton Mallet recorded 18 offences (2.0 per 1,000) and Street Village the lowest in the area with just 14 offences (1.7 per 1,000).

Even within Frome, not all areas are equal. Frome South & East saw 21 vehicle crimes (1.9 per 1,000), while Frome North East had just 13 incidents, matching the national average more closely at 1.8 per 1,000.

Vehicle crime includes any reported offence involving theft from or of a vehicle, or attempted interference — so that includes stolen cars, broken windows, ripped-off wing mirrors, or someone trying their luck with a door handle in the middle of the night.

Across England and Wales, more than 340,000 vehicle crimes were recorded last year. City centres, airports and long-stay car parks are often the worst-hit — with Central London's Soho and Fitzrovia topping the charts with nearly 900 reported incidents in one neighbourhood alone.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We understand the impact vehicle crime can have on residents and businesses. Our neighbourhood teams are focused on preventing this type of offending, identifying repeat patterns and responding quickly to reports.

"We always encourage the public to report any suspicious activity and to take simple steps such as locking vehicles, removing valuables, and parking in well-lit areas where possible."

The maximum sentence for vehicle theft is seven years, but lesser offences like interfering with a vehicle can result in three months in prison — if caught.

So, whether you're parking outside the pub in Wells, leaving the camper van near the Tor, or nipping into Lidl in Shepton, it's worth locking up, taking valuables with you, and keeping an eye out.