But the collective areas of Allostock and Lower Peover seem to be the villages that crime forgot.

For over 11 months only 14 crimes were reported to police in the area and no crimes at all detected.

This week villagers said they were not surprised by the statistic which puts the policemen's beat - which also includes Lach Dennis - at the bottom of the crime league table.

"Everybody knows everybody else here so if we notice a stranger then they are going to stick out," said Pamela Robinson, who works at Lower Peover's post office.

"You hear of other post offices being done over, but I must admit we have had no trouble in the 10 years we've been here."

For vicar's wife Maureen Burghall the low crime rate is easy to figure out.

"Perhaps it is because we are not that easy to find," she said.

"And we've all got very big dogs."

The crime figures for the Lower Peover area are in stark contrast to others in Cheshire such as Frodsham which racked up a total of 492 crimes in the same time.

But Cheshire Police said there was no had no explanation for how few crimes there were in the villages near Knutsford.

"I'd put it down to good neighbours," said Bob Bracegirdle, of Hills Garden Centre in Allostock.

"Despite being open and vulnerable on a main road there is still not a great amount of theft thankfully."

Villagers might consider stepping up their car security - for there were five reported incidents of theft from motor vehicles in the 11 months.

The figure is less than 1% of the national average - but it still more than double any other type of crime in the villages.