Residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf are being urged to be on the look out for thoughtless, reckless and mindless criminals who continue to steel from tax payers!
The list of items stolen from across our County Borough continues to grow and the cost to replace these essential items is now running in to hundreds of thousands of pounds. As the thefts continue the Council has to find money from essential frontline services to replace what is being taken, potentially resulting in other service users suffering because of these thoughtless criminals.
So far this year the Council has reported the theft of street lighting cables, steel bins, gulley covers and lead roof tiles. The latest theft occurred on the main road through the Rhondda Valleys, near a well know chicken retailer in Porth. The steel bin was believed to have been stolen sometime in the evening and the criminals must have been seen by passer-by’s.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is asking residents to be on their guard and look out for anything suspicious. Council workers would always be dressed in Council branded clothing and travel in clearly branded vans and would never use rope or cutting materials to remove bins/street lighting/gulleys or roof tiles.
If you see a suspicious unmarked van parked in lay-by’s or close to a steel bins/street lights/roofs or drains, please note down the vehicle registration number and contact the Council as soon as possible.
The various items that have been stolen include potentially dangerous and hazardous items that could prove fatal to members of the public because of the way that they are being taken. The theft of street lighting cables and gulley covers often leave live wires hanging down over roads/pavements and drain holes exposed, making the area hazardous for innocent members of the public.
It is assumed that the opportunists responsible for these thefts take them to scrap yards in return for cash, which is negligible in relation to the cost to replace them. The Council would like to remind local scrap dealers that handling stolen goods is illegal and if any of the Council’s property is found to be in their possession then the police will be contacted and they will face a fine, a criminal record and potentially prison. If criminals present themselves to scrap dealers with any of these items the Council urges them to come forward and report them so that they can be caught and dealt with.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Frontline Services, Councillor Anthony Christopher, said: “The money that the thieves receive is just a small percentage of what the actual items cost to replace. In the current economic climate where the Council is under pressure to cut spending this is a cost that the Council will have to recover from other key front line services.
“We really fear that someone is going to be seriously injured before long if the thefts continue. The thieves are not only putting pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in danger; they are also stealing from the taxpayer.
“Many of the thefts have taken place in residential areas and the thieves will have made quite a bit of noise when taking the items. Those involved in these thefts should come forward and return the items immediately. I would urge anyone who knows anything or sees anything suspicious to come forward and report the information. Thefts of this kind will not be tolerated in our County Borough and we will do everything to catch those responsible.”
If you have information about these incidents please come forward, you do not have give your name and details if you wish to remain anonymous. The Council has notified the police and the police are now taking measures to catch the thieves and will remain vigilant until they are caught.
If you have any information about the theft please contact South Wales Police on 101 or contact the Council on 01443 494700.
