Fear of crime (scelerophobia)

Scelerophobia is a fear of crime, and some lists describe it as a fear of bad men or burglars. It might mean checking locks several times before bed, avoiding certain streets after dark, or lying awake listening for noises in the house. Some caution is sensible, but here the worry takes up more space than feels reasonable.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Latin scelus, meaning crime or wickedness. It is a rare term mainly found on phobia lists. It is related to the fear of being burgled, which some lists give its own name, and to wider worries about personal safety.

What it feels like

• Checking doors, windows and locks again and again
• Avoiding going out alone or after dark
• Jumping at unexpected sounds in the house at night

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

What if a fear of crime started after something actually happened?

A fear that begins after a burglary, mugging or other crime is a very understandable reaction. Victim Support offers free help in England and Wales, and a GP can also point towards suitable support. It is fine to look after that experience first before working on the fear itself.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices