RURAL CRIME WAVE: Warning as ‘oil thieves’ target Welsh homes amid price spike

The alert comes as the UK Government confirmed a £3.8 million emergency funding boost for Wales to help families struggling with the “surging” cost of keeping their homes warm.

With kerosene prices currently double that of crude oil, rural homes have become a prime target for gangs who can drain a family’s entire winter supply in just minutes.

Former Welsh Conservative leader and farmer Andrew RT Davies has called for an urgent deployment of police resources to protect vulnerable communities from the “deeply concerning” threat.

Mr Davies, who represents rural areas in the Vale of Glamorgan, said: “It’s deeply concerning to hear thieves are seeking to profit off the back of heating oil price increases.”

He added: “Police resources must be deployed towards preventing this, and protecting rural communities across Wales. Officers serving rural communities work incredibly hard, but they need support and resources to protect against this threat.”

The Countryside Alliance has also re-issued its oil theft prevention guide, warning that thieves are “on the prowl” as the value of the fuel hits record highs.

The group warns that modern thieves are increasingly sophisticated, often using small pumps and vans to drain thousands of pounds worth of fuel in a single raid.

Unlike gas and electricity customers, those who heat their homes with oil are not covered by the energy price cap. This means rural households are exposed to more immediate and brutal price hikes without the same safety nets as those on the grid.

Many of the most vulnerable households in Wales are forced to pay an upfront lump sum to top up their tanks just to maintain basic heating and hot water.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the new £50 million UK-wide support package will include £3.8 million specifically for Wales, distributed via the devolved government.

Ms Reeves said: “Heating oil prices have spiked sharply, and I know that for families in rural communities that is a real and urgent problem.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has also promised a crackdown on “unfair practices” in the industry, with plans to regulate the sector and introduce a new ombudsman.

The government intends to introduce new consumer protections, including a strengthened Code of Practice to provide greater flexibility on delivery volumes and improved price transparency.

A new “Priority Customers Register” is also being explored, which would ensure that vulnerable households are eligible for prioritised support during times of disruption.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also been asked to remain “vigilant” across heating oil prices to tackle any unjustified increases or profiteering.

The funding boost follows other major support for Carmarthenshire, which recently saw a £10m boost for storm recovery after devastating floods.

Householders are being urged to take immediate steps to secure their tanks, including installing heavy-duty locks, motion-sensor lighting, and electronic oil level gauges that trigger an alarm if levels drop suddenly.

The Countryside Alliance also recommends that residents in isolated areas join local “Farm Watch” or “Rural Watch” schemes to share information on suspicious vehicles.

With winter drawing to a close but prices remaining volatile, the message from leaders is clear: stay vigilant and look out for your neighbours.

DYFED-POWYS: Police boost patrols to crackdown on rural crime

The force, covering the largest rural police area in England and Wales, aims to increase officer visibility and engagement, seeking to disrupt criminal activity.

This new approach will see rural crime officers boosting patrols and building stronger relationships with local communities, according to the police.

They will also be offering more crime prevention visits and engaging with residents at local events, building on previous rural crime team patrols designed to protect vulnerable areas.

Inspector Matthew Howells of Dyfed-Powys Police highlighted the issue of under-reported rural crime.

“Rural crime can often go unreported. We want to have a stronger presence, and expand both Farm and Rural Watch, to increase reporting,” Inspector Howells stated.

He added that this increased reporting would provide crucial data to shape patrols and disrupt criminal activity.

Officers will also be promoting property marking and security measures to help residents protect their assets and avoid becoming a victim of vehicle theft.

“We want to reduce repeat victimisation and disrupt criminal activity,” Inspector Howells confirmed.

In 2025, Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 49 reports of livestock theft, a significant concern for farmers.

There were also 42 reports of quad bike theft, a common target for rural criminals.

Heritage crimes, which harm historic sites through activities like illegal metal detecting or off-roading, accounted for 60 reports.

However, the most frequently reported crime was livestock worrying, with 60 incidents recorded throughout 2025.

Chief Constable Ifan Charles recently met with members of the farming community to discuss the new strategy.

He was joined by Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn and the rural crime team at a farm belonging to Anwen Hughes, regional vice-president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The meeting also addressed updates to livestock worrying laws, a topic of great importance to the farming community.

Anwen Hughes shared her recent experience of losing three lambs due to a livestock attack, underscoring the devastating impact of such incidents.

Chief Constable Ifan Charles emphasised the profound effect these crimes have on rural communities.

“The impact these crimes have on rural communities can’t be underestimated. People’s livelihoods and homes are intertwined,” Chief Constable Charles said.

He stressed that the new strategy prioritises the needs of rural residents.

“The new strategy puts people in the rural communities at its heart,” he added.

Protecting vast rural areas presents unique challenges compared to urban environments, the Chief Constable noted.

“Our rural crime teams will work with people to understand the challenges and keep them safe,” Chief Constable Charles concluded.

Residents are being urged to report rural, wildlife, and heritage crime by calling 101 or using the online reporting tool on the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

Two men sentenced for vicious crimes against badgers

The two men were found to have shot a badger dead before dragging its lifeless body down a hill and throwing it into a nearby bog.

On the afternoon of Saturday 6 January 2024, the RSPCA say they were alerted to a concern about suspicious activity taking place on a grassy hillside in the Esgairdawe area of Carmarthenshire.

A member of the rural community, and key witness in the case, told the RSCPA how they had seen a group of individuals acting suspiciously around an active badger sett near to their home.

Taking a closer look using their camera, fitted with a telescopic lens, the witness observed the group digging into badger sett before seeing a man dragging a heavy animal down the hill and throwing it over a fence into a bog.

The witness also reported seeing another man carrying a terrier with blood on its legs in one arm, and a shotgun in the other.

The same day, RSCPA Inspector Keith Hogben attended to examine the site and was shown the photos taken by the witness. Inspector Hogben gathered evidence from the scene, including the dead body of a badger which was freshly wounded.

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team was notified of the incident, and further examination of the deceased badger confirmed that the animal had been shot dead. This led officers to believe that the killing was in breach of the Badgers Act 1992, and a criminal investigation was launched.

Using the photographs taken by the initial witness, the two main suspects were identified, and plans were put into place to carry out simultaneous arrests during a day of action on Tuesday 9 April 2024.

During the pre-planned operation led by PC Ashleigh Jones and the RSPCA, suspects Sion Davis and Gwynli Edwards were arrested at their homes on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs, interfering with badger setts and being in possession of a dead badger.

Further property searches found a total of nine firearms, including a shotgun believed to have been used in the illegal killing of the badger. The quadbike seen by the witness was also located at one of the properties, along with items related to terrier hunting, including dog radio collars, T-bars, nets, and shovels.

Davis’s firearms were seized, his license revoked, and the pair were released under investigation.

Following a thorough joint investigation, Sion Davis was later charged with interfering with a badger sett, using a firearm to kill a badger, and wilfully killing a badger. He pleaded guilty to all three charges at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday 27 March. Gwynli Edwards was also charged, and pleaded guilty to, interfering with a badger sett and possession of a dead badger when he appeared alongside Sion Davis at the court hearing in March.

On Wednesday 16 April 2025, both men were handed sixteen month suspended sentences, and Sion Davis was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work. In addition, the pair were ordered to pay costs totalling £4,960.

Detective Sergeant Paul Roberts of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “This result is a testament to the strength of partnership between Dyfed-Powys Police and the RSCPA. This case reinforces the message that we will do all we can under the all-Wales partnership for rural and wildlife crime, to protect vulnerable wildlife within our force are, and pursue those that intend to bring them harm.”

Echoing DS Roberts’s comments, PC Ashleigh Jones of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “Today’s outcome shows that vicious and cruel behaviour against innocent and defenceless animals will simply not be tolerated. I want to commend the initial witness for their proactivity in contacting the RSCPA to report her concerns, which ultimately led to the two perpetrators facing justice for their crimes today.

“I’d also like to thank RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben for the critical role he played in this investigation. His initial actions at the scene, and gathering of key evidence early on were instrumental in securing this prosecution.”

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