Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of eight counts of commercial burglary after a spate of incidents in Neath.
South Wales Police said the boy had been bailed and banned from Neath town centre while investigations continued. They are also asking for the public's help as they appeal for information on the crimes.
Local police inspector, Lindsey Sweeney said: "In response to a number of commercial burglaries within Neath Town Centre, and following a joint investigation between Neighbourhood officers and detectives from CID, a 14-year-old local boy has been arrested on suspicion of eight counts of commercial burglary. He has been bailed with strict conditions not to enter Neath town centre whilst our enquiries continue."
Anyone that may have information in relation to the burglaries is asked to contact police by calling 101 or by filling in an online reporting form here, quoting reference number 2200 21 35 64 .
The shocking arrest comes at the same time as unrelated incidents in Neath which have seen one independent businessowner claim their premises and four others in the town centre were targeted by reckless vandals last weekend.
Sharing shocking photos of what appeared to be criminal damage to the front of its business, management at Smashed Raspberry dessert shop in Angel Street took to social media to say it had been "only a matter of time" before their business was targeted by vandals - and blamed the lack of CCTV cameras in Angel Street for helping to incite the reckless vandalism.
Pictures of the front of the shop suggest something has hit or been thrown at a glass panel - causing it to shatter and smash on the ground. A spokesperson for South Wales Police told WalesOnline: "South Wales Police was called just before 10am on Sunday, June 26, following reports of a window having been damaged at a premises in Angel Street in Neath."
Meanwhile, staff at Zoar's Ark pet superstore in Bridge Street also confirmed their business was targeted by vandals and said "five panes of glass" had been broken there. Fortunately, staff said there was no break-in at the business and nothing was stolen.
WalesOnline understands three further businesses, one of which was an independent barber shop, had their windows smashed some time over the weekend of June 25 and 26. If you're the owner or manager of a business which had its windows smashed and you'd like to share your story, please email us: molly.dowrick@walesonline.co.uk
Anti-social behaviour has been an issue in Neath for several years now but appears to have stepped up in recent months. In March, a restaurant owner spoke of his concerns for his safety after bricks were thrown at his business's windows twice in 24 hours. Miah Shahin, owner of Paprika Indian restaurant in Windsor Road, said the incidents had left him with a "big worry" for his safety, adding: I would never have believed this would happen." You can recap what happened in a previous article here.
The following month, we visited the town and heard from many residents who said they avoided the town centre as they were scared of anti-social behaviour, whilst others said there had been a rise in "drinking on the streets" and "incoherent people shouting at each other openly about drug-taking". You can read our full piece on Neath here.
And, more recently, a young person was banned from Neath town centre after causing a number of incidents. In a tweet on May 11, officers from South Wales Police explained: "Neath NPT have issued a youth who has been causing a number of anti-social issues within the town centre with a Community Protection Warning. This will prevent the person from frequenting the town centre and will limit the number of people he will be able to associate with."
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