Fears as police reveal items taken from stations
BODY armour, a uniform and pepper spray are among items brazen thieves have stolen from police stations in North Wales.
Cash and a mountain bike were also taken right from under officers’ noses over the past few years.
And out of the five incidents of theft from stations around the region, two of them remain unsolved.
In response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Herald’s sister paper, the Daily Post, North Wales police revealed that a cash tin, high-vis jacket and a cargo belt were taken from Connah’s Quay station in 2012.
The same year, a mountain bike was stolen from Mold police station, and that crime remains unsolved.
The station at Barmouth was burgled and some body armour taken.
But the perpetrator walked away with only a caution.
James Price, campaign manager for the pressure group the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said it was concerning that such important items were being stolen from the police, and feared they would fall into the wrong hands.
He said: “It is highly disconcerting that uniforms can be stolen, as this poses a very significant risk to members of the public if they were to fall into the wrong hands?
“Police officers do an often dangerous job and should be thanked for it.
“But there should also be much greater care taken of property bought and paid for by taxpayers.
“There needs to be some immediate changes to prevent this wastefulness happening again next year, and to give us peace of mind that police items in dangerous hands.”
A uniform was stolen from St Asaph custody suite, the Freedom of Information response also revealed.
A man was charged over that incident.
No suspect has been identified after last year’s theft of Captor spray, police said the incident has been investigated as far as possible.
North Wales police declined to comment.