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Neighbourhood officers in Blaenau Gwent have been carrying out an operation to target theft offences in town centres.
Between Monday 9 October – Friday 20 October, officers carried out patrols in Ebbw Vale, Tredegar, Abertillery and Brynmawr, and spoke to local retailers about the preventative measures they can take to deter and detect theft offences.
Throughout the operation, officers detected around 20 shoplifting offences.
A 15-year-old boy from the Abertillery area was arrested on suspicion of 12 theft offences. He was later charged with these and is due to appear in court in November.
Four men were also given community resolution orders during the operation and referred to rehabilitative services.
Inspector Stevie Warden said:
“Our officers are committed to tackling neighbourhood crimes like burglary and theft and, during the recent operation, carried out a number of targeted patrols in town centres and supermarkets to combat shoplifting.
“This type of crime can often increase seasonally and, by analysing crime data and speaking with residents and businesspeople, we ensure our officers are deployed in the right places, at the right times – to protect businesses and shoppers, and identify those intent on committing crime.
“Our engagement work is also important: our officers have been busy visiting shops to provide crime prevention advice and advise on steps that can be taken to increase security.
“This will be particularly important in the lead up to the festive period, an important time of year for a lot of small businesses and retailers in Blaenau Gwent.”
Gwent Police also supported Safer Business Action Week, a National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) campaign to help protect local businesses from crime.
Inspector Warden added: “We’ll continue to support businesses in the area, target shoplifters, and thank the public for their support. If you have any concerns about theft offences in your area, please contact us on 101 or, in an emergency, dial 999.”
For more on the service’s work to tackle acquisitive crime and support businesses in Gwent, visit: https://www.gwent.police.uk/news/gwent/news/news/2023/october/gwent-officers-support-safer-business-action-week/.