High-value thefts across Welsh councils exposed, including Flintshire losses

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by our sister site Wrexham.com has uncovered significant thefts across Welsh councils, including thousands of pounds worth of stolen equipment in Flintshire.

The FOIs sought details of stolen items, their value, and whether incidents were reported to the police.

Flintshire Council revealed a major burglary in June 2023 at a construction site on the A550 in Hope.

Thieves stole a range of high-value tools and machinery, totalling thousands of pounds. The stolen items included:

• 1 x hydraulic pecker (£1,600)
• 1 x petrol jackhammer (£2,850)
• 1 x Stihl saw and concrete cutting disc (£644)
• 1 x Cat & genny cable locator (£1,558)
• 1 x Milwaukee reciprocator saw (£204)
• 1 x Makita SDS drill and bits (£569)
• 1 x telescopic ladder (£124.50)
• 1 x whacker plate (£1,149)
• Various shovels, crowbars, and dust suppressors (£791 combined)

Separately, a laptop worth £513 was stolen from Llwynegrin Hall but was later recovered after being reported to the police.

Other councils reported a wide range of thefts, from construction equipment and vehicles to cash and electronic devices.

Caerphilly Council
Caerphilly disclosed several high-value thefts, including:

• 1 x minibus from the education department (£30,340)
• Power tools stolen from highways (£1,141), housing (£6,731 and £7,356), and countryside services (£1,770)
• 1 x combi boiler (£10,000)
• 1 x cement mixer (£500)
• 1 x network video system (£1,282)
• 1 x gate (£1,089)

Despite the significant losses, not all thefts were reported to the police, such as the £1,089 gate.

Merthyr Tydfil Council
Merthyr Tydfil disclosed thefts totalling tens of thousands of pounds, including:

• 1 x set of Apple iPads from council offices in Pentrebach (£13,770)
• £4,000 in cash stolen from the Civic Centre
• Diesel fuel worth £585
• Construction equipment, including:
  • 1 x Cobra Breaker Point (£9,800)
  • 1 x disc saw (£2,200)
  • 1 x JCB Breaker (£2,800)

Most of these thefts were reported to the police, except for the diesel theft.

Neath Port Talbot Council
Neath Port Talbot reported several thefts, including:

• Six bicycles and lighting equipment from Margam Castle (£3,950)
• Chainsaws and a disc cutter from a site in Baglan (£3,238)
• 1 x defibrillator (£950)

Councils Reporting No Thefts
Five councils reported no thefts over the past three financial years:

• Blaenau Gwent
• Denbighshire
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Monmouthshire

Councils Unable to Provide Data
Several councils were unable to provide detailed responses. Cardiff Council requested clarification on the definition of “items,” while Pembrokeshire County Council refused to respond unless the FOI was narrowed to specific departments or items.

Newport, Torfaen, and Isle of Anglesey councils indicated they do not centrally record stolen goods. Swansea, Conwy, and Carmarthenshire councils acknowledged the FOI request but failed to respond, while Powys County Council rejected the request outright, citing excessive time required to compile the information.

The findings highlight the scale and variety of thefts affecting councils across Wales, with significant losses reported by some authorities, while others lacked sufficient data to respond comprehensively.