Wrexham,North Wales - Thief scaled nine metre pole to steal CCTV camera bought to deter crime in Caia Park

Published date: 16 January 2017 | 

Published by: Rory Sheehan 
Read more articles by Rory Sheehan Email reporter

A CAMERA bought to deter and catch crime has been stolen.

At this month’s meeting of Caia Park Community Council, clerk Michael Morris informed members that one of the estate’s CCTV cameras had been stolen.

It was swiped by a thief with a head for heights, who risked their own safety to climb a 30ft pole, with spikes at the top, to take it.

The ironic theft was discovered when North Wales Police contacted Mr Morris to say the camera was missing and enquire whether it had been taken away for repair.

Mr Morris confirmed that it had not.

The camera, which covered the shops in the Bryn Hafod area, paid for by the community council and adopted by the police, was taken at around 10.30pm on New Year’s Day.

It was recovered on 12 days later in the Gwenfro area, just hours before the meeting, by PCSO John Davies, and has been sent for repair to see if it can be salvaged.

In a further ironic twist, some footage of the theft taking place has been caught on a Wrexham Council CCTV camera based in the Queensway area.

Mr Morris said: “The camera was found in the Gwenfro this afternoon.

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“They have literally ‘shinned’ up the pole and took it down.

“It begs the question, where do we put it next?

“It has probably been targeted because it covers the shops.

“The camera is going back to supplies to see if it’s salvageable.”

Council chairman, Whitegate Cllr Marc Jones said despite the theft, the presence of the camera had obviously had an impact for someone to risk their safety in removing it.

He said: “On a positive note, it has upset someone enough to risk life and limb to get it.”

Members discussed what more could be done to protect it, such as anti-vandal grease paint being coated on it.

They will wait to see if it can be saved before deciding on whether there is a need to replace it.

In the last five years the community council has spent thousands of pounds on CCTV cameras which have proved successful in helping reduce crime in the areas in which they are located.

Last week Wrexham town centre inspector Paul Wycherley said CCTV was invaluable in helping tackle crime.

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/171341/thief-scaled-nine-metre-pole-to-steal-cctv-camera-bought-to-deter-crime-in-caia-park.aspx