Crime

Car theft crackdown call as new figures show unsolved cases are on the rise

Published

3 months ago

December 30, 2025

ALMOST three-quarters of car thefts recorded in South Wales last year went unsolved, according to new figures, prompting renewed calls for tougher action against organised vehicle crime.

Data published by the House of Commons Library shows that 74% of car theft offences recorded by South Wales Police resulted in no suspect being identified or charged. The figures have reignited concerns about police capacity, cross-border criminal networks, and the growing sophistication of vehicle theft gangs.

The problem is not confined to one force area. Across Wales, outcomes for car theft investigations vary widely. In Gwent, 69% of cases were unsolved, while North Wales Police recorded a 51% unsolved rate. Dyfed-Powys Police, which covers much of rural west Wales, had the lowest proportion at 38%, though the force area also records fewer thefts overall.

Vehicle crime has increasingly shifted from opportunistic theft to highly organised operations. Police and insurers have previously warned that many vehicles are stripped for parts or transported out of the country within hours, making recovery and prosecution difficult.

In South Wales, densely populated residential areas, commuter corridors, and transport hubs are frequently targeted, while rural communities can face longer response times and fewer specialist resources. Criminal networks are also believed to be exploiting major routes such as the M4 to move stolen vehicles rapidly out of the region.

The figures have been seized upon by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who are calling for a national “car theft crackdown” and the creation of a specialist vehicle crime unit within the National Crime Agency.

The party says such a unit should bring together Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data, insurance and vehicle registration records, and intelligence from police forces and border agencies, with a specific focus on organised gangs operating across force boundaries.

They argue that improving detection rates would not only reduce crime but also help lower insurance premiums and rebuild public confidence in policing.

Sam Bennett, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea & Gower) and a Swansea City councillor, said the figures were “deeply worrying”.

“Car theft is a real problem across Wales, and it is alarming how many cases are going unsolved,” he said. “Victims deserve justice rather than silence.

“Years of cuts under the previous Conservative government hollowed out local policing, and the current Labour government is failing to respond to what has become a serious and organised criminal threat.”

However, police forces across Wales have previously stressed that detection rates alone do not tell the full story. Senior officers have pointed to improvements in crime recording, the growing use of forensic and digital evidence, and targeted operations against organised crime groups, particularly those linked to drugs and vehicle theft.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police has previously said the force prioritises serious and organised crime, working with regional and national partners to disrupt gangs and recover stolen vehicles, while encouraging the public to take preventative measures such as steering locks, secure parking, and tracking devices.

The Welsh Government has also maintained that police funding in Wales has increased in recent years, with additional officers recruited since 2020, though critics argue rising crime complexity has outpaced resources.

With car theft continuing to affect both urban and rural communities, the figures are likely to fuel further debate over policing priorities, national coordination, and whether current approaches are sufficient to tackle increasingly professional criminal networks.

Crime

Train disruption after youths seen playing on tracks at Haverfordwest station

Published

7 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police attend after dangerous incident involving football on railway line

TRAINS were delayed at Haverfordwest railway station on Tuesday (Apr 1) after a group of youths were seen playing with a football near live tracks, prompting a police response.

Footage captured by a bystander shows several young people on the platform throwing and kicking a ball across the station. In one clip, a youth is seen kicking a football from Platform 2 towards Platform 1, but the ball overshoots and lands beyond a fence into the station car park.

More concerning footage shows the ball rolling onto the railway line, with one youth climbing down onto the tracks to retrieve it—an act that poses serious risk of injury or death due to live rails and the potential for oncoming trains.

The incident caused disruption to services, with two trains delayed by 25 minutes while the situation was dealt with.

Police attended the scene, although it is not yet clear whether any arrests were made. Officers have been approached for comment.

Railway safety rules strictly prohibit access to the tracks except by authorised personnel, and incidents such as this are treated seriously due to the potentially fatal consequences.

The Herald understands that such behaviour can also lead to significant disruption across the rail network, affecting passengers and services well beyond the immediate area.

Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact police.

Crime

Driver given interim ban after A478 crash

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist fled scene after colliding with fence and hedge near Clunderwen

A LLANDISSILIO motorist has been handed an interim driving disqualification after failing to stop following a collision on the A478.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Dean Duffy, 31, collided with a fence and hedge while driving his Ford Puma at Clunderwen on Tuesday (Mar 4). His failure to stop and report the incident led to his court appearance.

Duffy, of Maesybryn, Llandissilio, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road traffic collision, failing to report the accident, driving without third party insurance and driving while disqualified.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court: “A vehicle collided with a fence and hedge and the bumper came off. The vehicle was abandoned, but correspondence on the seat identified the defendant as possibly being the person responsible.”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until Tuesday (Apr 28) to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service.

Duffy was disqualified from driving on an interim basis pending sentence.

Crime

Dock motorist avoids jail after drug-drive crash

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after taking his mother’s car without permission and crashing into a wall, causing damage to a parked BMW.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that on September 27, 2025, Tony Brundrett, 21, took his mother’s Vauxhall Astra from her home and drove off without her consent.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that Brundrett lost control of the vehicle and collided with a wall.

“The wall collapsed as a result of the impact, causing damage to a parked BMW,” she said.

The owner of the BMW said the vehicle suffered bodywork damage and scratching following the incident.

When arrested, Brundrett was found to have 253 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system, more than five times the legal limit of 50.

The court heard that although Brundrett’s mother confirmed the car was hers, she did not wish to criminalise her son.

Brundrett, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, criminal damage, and drug-driving.

Defending, Alaw Harries said: “He accepts his behaviour was foolish and irresponsible and wishes to apologise to the court for what took place.

“At the time of the offence, he was experiencing significant personal difficulties. This was the first and last time he has taken drugs, and he was not thinking clearly. While that is not an excuse, it provides context. He is now in a much better place.”

Magistrates sentenced Brundrett to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 24 months. He was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay £100 compensation, a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.