Burglaries in Wales up 20%

Burglaries in Wales up 20% in year, despite falling crime

Burglaries were up 48% in the South Wales Police area last year

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Burglaries increased by 20% across Wales last year, figures have shown.

But statistics compiled by the UK Crime Stats website show overall crime in Wales down 17% in December 2011 compared to a year earlier.

However, recorded cases of burglary increased from 1,483 to 1,781, BBC Wales’ Dragon’s Eye has found.

It also found that the police area covering Cardiff city centre and nearby Cathays recorded the seventh-highest number of crimes in England and Wales.

Dr Colin Rogers, from the University of Glamorgan’s Centre for Police Studies, told BBC Wales’ Dragon’s Eye programme that the rise follows a steady drop in the number of burglaries over the previous decade. (full story).