Blackwood and Ystrad Mynach Neighbourhood Policing Teams have welcomed a new Inspector.
Mark Smith has said he is committed to cutting crime and antisocial behaviour in both areas.
Below is a message from Insp Smith to local residents.
Hello, I’m Insp. Mark Smith your new Inspector for the Blackwood and Ystrad Mynach Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
As your new Inspector, I, along with my teams will be dedicating our resources into protecting and reassuring your communities. I have a thorough knowledge of the local area after working here periodically over the last 15 years and am committed to cutting crime and antisocial behaviour in both areas.
Over the coming months, I will look forward to meeting and discussing the issues that matter to you. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact myself or my teams at Blackwood or Ystrad Mynach Police Station.
In the last week in Blackwood two crimes have been brought to my attention:
Garage security
Please think about the security of your garden sheds and garages as well as your garden furniture and equipment. In the last 5 days we have had reported:
Two garage breaks in Penmaen
One garage break in Blackwood
One shed break in Penmaen
The garage breaks were forced open by the use of a drill on the roller shutters and thieves were able to steal motorcycles and electrical equipment.
To help protect your outbuildings, here are some handy tips;
- Ensure your shed is in a good physical condition.
- Use a good lock bolted through the door and reinforced with a steel plate.
- Most shed doors open outwards with the hinges exposed, so to prevent these from being removed, replace the screws with dome head coach bolts.
- Most thieves gain entry by forcing off the lock. Use a heavy-duty hasp and staple (also known as a pad bar) and secure it with suitable coach bolts and locking nuts.
- Fit a shed alarm – these are relatively inexpensive and can be bought from local hardware stores.
- If your shed or garage has a window, consider fitting a wooden board behind the window to stop thieves shopping for goods. Alternatively you could fit a grille fixed to steel plates inside the shed or garage.
- If your garage has an ‘up and over’ door, fit an additional lock to the one provided, preferably secured to the ground.
- Post Code all property, such as lawn mowers, garden furniture, hedge trimmers and ladders.
- Photograph valuable items so that they can be easily identified in case they are stolen, this includes garden ornaments.
- Install security lighting – you can either purchase lights with sensors to light up your garden and property when movement is detected, or ‘dusk to dawn’ lights will keep your garden lit in the hours of darkness.
Theft of stone
Please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Gwent Police immediately. In the last week we have had reported three separate incidents of stone theft from High Street, Bryn Road and Penywerlod Road, Argoed. On one occasion 22 one hundred year old stones were stolen to the value of £220. We have had reports of a suspicious, red vehicle in the area at the times of the incidents.
If you have any information on the above crimes or crime in your local area, please contact the Blackwood Neighbourhood Policing team on 01495 233 966 or the Ystrad Mynach Neighbourhood Policing Team on 01443 865 595. To report a crime, please call either 101, our non-emergency number, or in an emergency always dial 999.