Latest news with #Ceredigion
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sharp rise in home burglary reports 'a big worry'
The Dyfed-Powys Police area has reported the highest percentage increase in residential burglaries in Wales and England, according to latest ONS figures. The force, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, reported a 27% increase in the year to December 2024. Car mechanic Dafydd Jones, 27, who recently had thousands of pounds worth of tools stolen from his shed in Ceredigion, said the rise in crime was a "big worry". Dyfed-Powys Police said its transition to a new crime reporting system was partly behind the rise for 2024, adding the actual increase was 26%. The force said its officers were committed to attending and investigating residential burglaries. Burglar hung out washing and cooked meal for victim CCTV shows how burglar carried out £10m jewellery heist The ONS data indicated a 7% decrease in reports of residential burglaries across Wales and England as a whole. Mr Jones found £3,000-£4,000 worth of tools stolen from his farm shed in Ffair Rhos, Ceredigion, when he came home from work on 12 May. He said many of the tools stolen were ones he needed for his work as a mechanic, while others had personal value such as tools that were inherited with his farm and others which he bought as an apprentice car technician. Mr Jones, who reported the incident to the police, said it had had a massive impact on his daily life. "I'll never forget about this and I'll always be thinking about it," he said. "Even when I go out to the shops, or to check on the sheep, I'll be thinking 'could someone be robbing the shed?' "It's just not nice when you've worked so hard for your money and to buy everything you need." Mr Jones said a rise in rural crime and burglaries had become a big worry for people in his local area. "There's a lot of rural crime going on at the moment, with quadbikes and farming tools being taken. "Other people that I've spoken to are scared of their stuff being taken as well." Mr Jones said he understood it was difficult for the police to monitor everything, especially in rural areas, but felt the issue was not being taken seriously enough. "There should be more of a hunger to find the people responsible." In the Dyfed-Powys Police force area, ONS figures showed Powys had seen the highest increase in residential burglaries in Wales, with an 81% spike in the year to December 2024. In Ceredigion, the ONS data showed a 60% increase in residential burglaries in the same period while Carmarthenshire saw a 50% rise. A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "While it is difficult to comment on the exact reason for the increase in reports of burglaries, we are aware of national reporting issues due to our transition to a new crime system in 2023 which led to the figures being more than they should be in 2024. "Measures have been taken to correct the figures however this may not be reflected in the published ONS data." In amended figures provided by Dyfed-Powys Police, the force reported a 26% rise in residential burglaries in its area, meaning it still had the highest percentage increase in residential burglaries in Wales and England over the period. Powys saw a rise of 55% in the amended figures, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire reported a 27% and 26% increase respectively while Pembrokeshire – also in the force area – saw a smaller increase of 1%. The force said it "acknowledged the significant impact that crimes of this nature have on victims and the worry it can cause to the wider community". It said police forces across Wales and England had implemented a new policy in 2023 to ensure police attend every reported residential dwelling burglary. It said its officers were committed to attending and investigating burglaries and urged the public to continue reporting them. The charity Crimestoppers recommends taking the following steps to protect your property from burglars. Fit burglar alarms with flashing lights and sounders at the front and back Switch lights or a radio on when you go out Check that all doors and windows are properly closed and locked Make sure side and back gates are secure Don't leave garden tools outside, keep ladders out of sight and ensure sheds, garages and outbuildings are locked Fit tamper-proof automatic outside security lights Even when you're at home, try not to leave accessible windows open at night Police chief defends record amid rural 'crime wave' Rural couple burgled three times call for support Personal theft up 22% in England and Wales, ONS says
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Home burglaries rise sharply in Dyfed-Powys Police force area
The Dyfed-Powys Police area has reported the highest percentage increase in residential burglaries in Wales and England, according to latest ONS force, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, reported a 27% increase in the year to December mechanic Dafydd Jones, 27, who recently had thousands of pounds worth of tools stolen from his shed in Ceredigion, said the rise in crime was a "big worry".Dyfed-Powys Police said its transition to a new crime reporting system was partly behind the rise for 2024, adding the actual increase was 26%.The force said its officers were committed to attending and investigating residential burglaries. The ONS data indicated a 7% decrease in reports of residential burglaries across Wales and England as a Jones found £3,000-£4,000 worth of tools stolen from his farm shed in Ffair Rhos, Ceredigion, when he came home from work on 12 said many of the tools stolen were ones he needed for his work as a mechanic, while others had personal value such as tools that were inherited with his farm and others which he bought as an apprentice car technician. 'I'll never forget about this' Mr Jones, who reported the incident to the police, said it had had a massive impact on his daily life."I'll never forget about this and I'll always be thinking about it," he said."Even when I go out to the shops, or to check on the sheep, I'll be thinking 'could someone be robbing the shed?'"It's just not nice when you've worked so hard for your money and to buy everything you need."Mr Jones said a rise in rural crime and burglaries had become a big worry for people in his local area."There's a lot of rural crime going on at the moment, with quadbikes and farming tools being taken."Other people that I've spoken to are scared of their stuff being taken as well."Mr Jones said he understood it was difficult for the police to monitor everything, especially in rural areas, but felt the issue was not being taken seriously enough."There should be more of a hunger to find the people responsible." In the Dyfed-Powys Police force area, ONS figures showed Powys had seen the highest increase in residential burglaries in Wales, with an 81% spike in the year to December 2024. In Ceredigion, the ONS data showed a 60% increase in residential burglaries in the same period while Carmarthenshire saw a 50% rise.A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "While it is difficult to comment on the exact reason for the increase in reports of burglaries, we are aware of national reporting issues due to our transition to a new crime system in 2023 which led to the figures being more than they should be in 2024."Measures have been taken to correct the figures however this may not be reflected in the published ONS data."In amended figures provided by Dyfed-Powys Police, the force reported a 26% rise in residential burglaries in its area, meaning it still had the highest percentage increase in residential burglaries in Wales and England over the period. Powys saw a rise of 55% in the amended figures, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire reported a 27% and 26% increase respectively while Pembrokeshire – also in the force area – saw a smaller increase of 1%.The force said it "acknowledged the significant impact that crimes of this nature have on victims and the worry it can cause to the wider community".It said police forces across Wales and England had implemented a new policy in 2023 to ensure police attend every reported residential dwelling said its officers were committed to attending and investigating burglaries and urged the public to continue reporting them. How can I protect my home from burglars? The charity Crimestoppers recommends taking the following steps to protect your property from burglar alarms with flashing lights and sounders at the front and back Switch lights or a radio on when you go outCheck that all doors and windows are properly closed and lockedMake sure side and back gates are secureDon't leave garden tools outside, keep ladders out of sight and ensure sheds, garages and outbuildings are lockedFit tamper-proof automatic outside security lightsEven when you're at home, try not to leave accessible windows open at night
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Adventure tourism is turning into ‘complete circus', says first Welshman to climb Everest
The first Welshman to climb Mount Everest has said that the adventure tourism industry is becoming a 'complete circus'. Caradoc Jones, 66, told BBC News that the bucket list quest to conquer Everest's peak has 'turned into a complete circus and has almost nothing to do with real mountaineering '. Mr Jones summited the world's highest mountain 30 years ago for between £2,000 and £3,000. The Welshman from Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, tackled the 8,848.86m challenge on 23 May 1995 with his Danish climbing partner, Michael Knakkergaard Jørgensen. Mr Jones started the climb, which he described as a 'personal battle', from the Tibet area, encountering a storm around the 8,300m mark. The mountaineer warned that climbing risks losing 'the element of a real adventure' as mountains become popular tourist attractions, reported BBC News. According to Climbing Magazine, the average climber will fork out between $45,000 (£33,387) and $75,000 (£55,645) on an Everest climb in 2025. Mr Jones said: 'People are quietly doing much harder things in every corner of the world and that's where the heart of mountaineering and climbing lies I think.' In April, it was reported that Nepal would pass a law to grant permits to climb Mount Everest only to those who have previously scaled at least one 7,000-metre peak within the country. The move would mark a major shift for the tourism-dependent country amid concerns over overcrowding and ecological imbalance on the world's highest mountain. Nepal, which is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking and tourism, has faced criticism for permitting too many climbers, including inexperienced ones, to try to ascend the mammoth peak. This often results in long queues of climbers in the 'death Zone', an area below the summit with insufficient natural oxygen for survival. The Integrated Tourism Bill proposed in Nepal's upper house of Parliament on 18 April is expected to be passed in the National Assembly.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Person in hospital after multi-vehicle crash that shut road for five hours
One person has been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash which saw a main road in Ceredigion closed for almost five hours on bank holiday Monday. The collision happened on the A487 between Tan-y-groes and Synod Inn in the county on Monday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the scene and the road was closed in both directions until after 7pm on Monday evening. Police have confirmed that one person sustained injuries in the crash which required hospital treatment. A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'We received a report of a four-vehicle road traffic collision on the A487 road between Tanygroes and Synod Inn at around 2.25pm on Monday, May 26. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. 'One person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The road was partially closed and was fully reopened just after 7pm.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
First Welshman to climb Everest slams adventure costs
The adventure and mountaineering industry has turned into "a complete circus which is too expensive", according to the first Welshman to climb Mount Everest. Caradoc Jones, 66, said large companies demanded too much money for excursions to some of the world's biggest attractions. Mr Jones, who is originally from Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, reached the summit of the world's highest mountain on 23 May 1995 and since then he has continued to climb in some of the most remote areas. "We have to be careful that we don't lose the element of a real adventure," he said. Mr Jones, who now lives in Helsby, Cheshire, said his journey with mountaineering began by "climbing mountains in Eryri when I was young". "Then I learned ice climbing in Scotland, the Alps and there were many campaigns before going to Everest," he said. While preparing for the challenge in 1995 with his Danish climbing partner, Michael Knakkergaard Jørgensen, Mr Jones started the journey in the Tibet area, north of Everest. "There's a rocky road that goes all the way to base camp and it's about 20km [12.4 miles] from the East Rongbuk Glacier to the advanced base. Then the real climbing starts there when you're up 6,000 feet [183m]". British soldiers make Everest history using new method Man climbs to Everest base camp on crutches Firefighter ready to climb Everest in work gear He said climbing at height was "very difficult" on his body, "although we had adapted in Nepal". As the pair approached the summit there was still no guarantee of success, with bad weather putting the whole adventure in jeopardy. "We were caught in a storm in the highest spot of around 8,300 meters [27,000 ft] for three days, until the wind then dropped and we got the opportunity to go to the summit. But there was no certainty until the last few minutes." With a clear gap in the extreme weather, they both managed to make it to the summit and Mr Jones said it was a huge relief. "Finally you think you're going to succeed because you see the old flags on the top and the last 200 yards from the north are not steep so you just feel happiness and relief as you approach," he said. "I grew up when Everest was a personal battle, and finally we had succeeded." Mr Jones said his trip 30 years ago cost between £2,000 and £3,000, compared to an average cost now of between £40,000 and £60,000. "People tend to think that you can't do things like this unless you have done a course or passed an exam and bought all this kit," he said. "It has turned into a complete circus and has almost nothing to do with real mountaineering. "People are quietly doing much harder things in every corner of the world and that's where the heart of mountaineering and climbing lies I think." Mr Jones is still climbing, with a trip to the Himalayas planned for the end of the year, and insists that there is adventure to be found in every corner of the world.
