Five reports of criminal damage in Caerphilly County Borough are being made every day, according to Gwent Police.
The average number of reports per day is since the beginning of 2013.
Chief Inspector for the Caerphilly County Borough area Simon Jeffries said: “While some offenders may think it is trivial or that there are no direct victims, criminal damage is often associated with antisocial behaviour and has a negative impact on the victims and the community in general.
“There are financial and human costs to criminal damage, in a majority of cases, communities often end up paying the cost through higher insurance.
“Fifty-one percent of the offences this year relate to damage to motor vehicles, with the highest volume of offences in Penyrheol, Blackwood Town and Newbridge. Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council will now concentrate our efforts on these areas and across the borough to ensure offenders are stopped in their tracks.
“If you are caught causing criminal damage, you could face a fine, or a court appearance and a criminal record, depending on the crime, you could face a prison sentence of up to ten years.
“We will investigate all reports and do all we can to identify the offenders and bring them to justice, whether it’s through arrest and charge, caution or fixed penalty.”
Police have say there have already been 15 incidents of criminal damage reported this week so far (Monday February 18 to Wednesday February 20).
These have included damage to a pub door, a smashed greenhouse window and paint thrown over a car.
Cllr David Poole, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for community and leisure services, said: “Our teams of Community Safety Wardens and CCTV operators have been and will continue to work alongside officers from Gwent Police to tackle this crime.
“While offenders of criminal damage may feel that no real harm has been done as a result of their crime, the reality for the victim is very different, and we will continue to do all we can alongside our partners to ensure that those caught causing criminal damage will be brought to task for their actions.”
Would these ` INCIDENTS` transpose into ` CRIMES` and be added to the statistical information on numbers of CRIMES in Gwent???
There is a considerable difference when determining an OFFENCE, which a member of the public reports. By the time the Police `record it they will determine if it goes on the record as a CRIME, or a SIMPLE INCIDENT.
However, the person who`s property has been damaged or destroyed will always want it treated as a crime, but will have no choice.