Sharp rise in home burglary reports in some areas

The Dyfed-Powys Police area has reported the highest percentage increase in residential burglaries in Wales and England, according to latest ONS figures.

The force, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, reported a 27% increase in the year to December 2024.

Car mechanic Dafydd Jones, 27, who recently had thousands of pounds worth of tools stolen from his shed in Ceredigion, said the rise in crime was a "big worry".

Dyfed-Powys Police said its transition to a new crime reporting system was partly behind the rise for 2024, adding the actual increase was 26%.

The force said its officers were committed to attending and investigating residential burglaries.

The ONS data indicated a 7% decrease in reports of residential burglaries across Wales and England as a whole.

The figures suggested the Gwent Police force area saw no change (0%), while South Wales Police saw a 1% increase and North Wales Police saw a 6% decrease.

Mr Jones found £3,000-£4,000 worth of tools stolen from his farm shed in Ffair Rhos, Ceredigion, when he came home from work on 12 May.

He said many of the tools stolen were ones he needed for his work as a mechanic, while others had personal value such as tools that were inherited with his farm and others which he bought as an apprentice car technician.

Mr Jones, who reported the incident to the police, said it had had a massive impact on his daily life.

"I'll never forget about this and I'll always be thinking about it," he said.

"Even when I go out to the shops, or to check on the sheep, I'll be thinking 'could someone be robbing the shed":[]}