North Wales Police has said two more people have been arrested following a “spate of burglaries” in rural communities in Gwynedd.
Two men were arrested in the west Midlands area on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. They are both being held in custody in Telford, where they will be questioned by police.
The arrests come after three that took place on Wednesday (February 22) following a number of warrants that took place in the Shropshire and west Midlands areas as part of Operation Calafat.
The rural crime prevention operation came about following reports of high-value agricultural machinery and quad bike thefts in rural areas in Wales including Tywyn, Dolgellau and Bala in November of last year.
The three people arrested last week have since been released on bail pending further enquiries, the force said.
Detective inspector Richard Sidney said: “Our investigation into these agricultural thefts continues and we are committed to pursue those who cause the most harm and financial impact in rural communities.”
Rural crime
In other rural crime news, Dorset Police issued an update yesterday (Wednesday, March 1) relating to criminal offences including cruelty to deer and hares.
A third man, the team said in a Facebook post, has admitted to offences linked to a warrant carried out by the rural crime team with support from its colleagues at Hampshire Constabulary in October of 2022.
The 28-year-old man from Sway, Hampshire, entered a guilty plea relating to an animal cruelty offence that involved him and his codefendant holding down a deer while he struck it over the head with a blunt object.
The man will return to court to be sentenced along with his 23-year-old codefendant from Bransgore who has already admitted a total of 13 offences. He was charged with the offences in January of this year.
These offences include:
- Seven counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal;
- Three counts of criminal damage;
- Handling stolen goods;
- Using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third party insurance;
- Driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
The sentencing is due to be held at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
The third defendant, the rural crime team said, has already been sentenced for three counts of criminal damage and received a community order with a requirement to carry out unpaid work in the community.
