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.

Further proceedings ordered by magistrates

A CARMARTHEN man has appeared before magistrates charged with a driving-related offence.

Wayne Williams, aged 44, of Ross Avenue, Carmarthen, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Dec 30).

The court heard that Williams is accused of failing to provide a specimen for analysis in connection with an alleged offence.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further proceedings. Williams was released until his next court appearance.

A MAN from Milford Haven has been jailed after exposing himself to a woman and sending her grossly offensive sexual messages.

Uwen Watts, aged 20, of Coombs Drive, Milford Haven, committed the offences on the same day in February this year.

The court heard that Watts sent the woman links to pornographic material before exposing his genitals to her. He was naked from the waist down during the incident.

In mitigation, defence barrister David Singh told the court that Watts had taken Valium on the day of the offences, which he said contributed to his behaviour.

Passing sentence, Judge Huw Rees condemned the conduct in strong terms.

Addressing Watts directly, Judge Rees said: “These are disgusting offences and you should be hanging your head in shame. You tried to seduce this woman sexually. She was vulnerable.”

The judge said the offending would have caused a “deep, if not long-lasting, effect” on the victim and told the court there was “no alternative” but to impose an immediate custodial sentence.

Watts was sentenced to a total of 29 weeks in prison.

He will also be subject to notification requirements under the Sex Offenders Register for a period of ten years.