Meet your local acquisitive crime team

Today we're launching our new monthly blog for our We Don't Buy Crime (WDBC) team.

Our WDBC monthly blogs will provide you with an insight into the work of the team, the work they do with our partners, and a focus on how we are working to tackle acquisitive crime.

We will also be celebrating the vital services that are on offer to support you, victims of crime, and our wider communities.

In this first edition, we're focusing on the important work that the team have been doing across Gwent. September saw a notable decrease for acquisitive crime offences across Gwent - including a decrease in residential burglary, commercial burglary, vehicle crime, shoplifting, and robbery.

The We Don't Buy Crime (WDBC) team have been working hard with residents across Gwent by:

• hosting regular crime prevention surgeries
• offering free SmartWater forensic property marking for items such as tools, bikes, e-bikes, catalytic converters
• providing local businesses with commercial forensic marking, crime prevention advice, security reviews and deterrent signage
• providing free training sessions to spot the signs of exploitation and how to report this
• providing free SmartWater forensic property marking, crime prevention advice and support to victims of crime
• using capture devices to identify and convict thieves who target our communities
• using the team’s analytical capability to link offenders and offences across Gwent.

To date, the team have recovered £152,447 worth of goods thanks to forensic marking and trained over 1000 people in spotting the signs of acquisitive crime.

Inspector Carl Morgan said:

“The WDBC team use a range of techniques to tackle serious and organised acquisitive crime using technology such as SmartWater and the deployment of covert assets.

"The aim of the department is to target the most prolific offenders that cause the greatest harm to our communities, and to make our neighbourhoods a safe place to live.

"We hope that this blog helps people protect themselves, and others, against acquisitive crimes." 

For national business crime week, the team visited more than 45 businesses and delivered 37 crime prevention packs.

In the packs was SmartWater - which is forensic marking technology. This allows business owners to mark their items so that, in the that case they were stolen, they can be identified by the marks.

The team welcomed PC Helen Moss as business officer. One of her first jobs with the team was visiting a church following a burglary.

PC Moss provided the clergy with crime prevention advice and free packs, including SmartWater.



Part of the WDBC team’s job is to provide training to members of the community. Our trainers create bespoke packages to deliver their training to different audiences and sectors.

Earlier in the month, our vulnerability and exploitation trainers delivered training the Helping Caring team in spotting the signs of adult exploitation.



Our partners, events, and community.

The WDBC teamwork alongside partners throughout the year to identify crime trends, ensure preventative work is in place, support victims of crime and identify those committing it within our communities.

To find out more about their upcoming events and where they are within the community, follow the team on Twitter or visit their page on our website.

If you would like to find out more about how the team can help you, please email [email protected].

If you witness a crime, please call 101, use our online reporting system, or message us on Facebook and Twitter.

In an emergency, always dial 999.