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Around £5,000 of loss and damage was caused after a break-in at the Parc Cwm Darran visitor centre.

The burglary happened on November 23 between 3.30 and 4am. Senior Park Ranger, Peter Lewis went to the scene that morning. 

“We just missed the assailants,” he said, adding that as he was driving on the park grounds he believes he saw the car that was part of the burglary leave. “I saw the vehicle leaving.”

The estimated £5k of loss includes the theft of chainsaws, a leaf blower and a backpack. Further costs were incurred after the door to the visitor centre was damaged. 

Parc Cwm Darran has not had a break-in for around 15 years, according to Peter. But other sites have been targeted, with a trailer stolen from another site about nine months ago. 

Peter thinks things like this will only increase. 

“Things are getting much tighter,” he said of the financial strain that is affecting a lot of people and the local authority too. “[The] worry is this type [of thing] will become the norm.”

This is made worse this time of year as Christmas adds to the financial pressure.

“Christmas is coming and people have got to pay bills as well as buy Christmas presents,” said Peter.

Money that could have been spent on positive additions to the park, such as new benches, play equipment or trees now has to be spent on “negative stuff” like increasing security, according to Peter. 

“We’re looking to upgrade CCTV soon,” said Peter of new 24-hour surveillance which is soon to be installed. “We’ll have much more control.”

Enquiries are still ongoing and Gwent Police are asking anyone with information to contact them on 101 or via direct message on social media quoting log reference 2200395122.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.