Organised Crime Gang Sentenced for £200,000 Theft Spree

A group of men involved in a series of high-value thefts across rural Gwynedd and Shropshire has been sentenced to a combined total of nearly 16 years in prison. The North Wales Police (NWP) announced the sentences following a lengthy investigation into the organised crime gang’s activities, which resulted in losses exceeding £200,000.

The gang, consisting of four men from West Mercia, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on September 15, 2024. They were found guilty of engaging in a conspiracy that spanned three months, during which they targeted agricultural machinery and property in North Wales. A separate hearing at Mold Crown Court on September 20, 2024, resulted in additional sentences for other members who handled stolen goods.

During their operation, the gang travelled to various locations including Tywyn, Dolgellau, and Bala, often staying at local caravan and camping sites. Investigators found that the group planned and executed their thefts systematically, stealing items such as quad bikes, trailers, Land Rovers, and high-value gardening equipment.

The spree, which began in August 2022, included a total of 17 offences across Gwynedd. Among the stolen items were commercial woodchippers and chainsaws, with only a small fraction of the stolen property recovered by law enforcement.

The investigation into these crimes, known as Operation Calafat, was launched in March 2023 and involved the NWP’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit. The operation was prompted by a noticeable increase in rural burglaries, leading detectives from West Mercia Police’s Serious Acquisitive Crime Team to collaborate closely with their North Welsh counterparts.

Key figures in the gang included Wayne Price and Dean Rodgerson, who identified potential targets in Gwynedd prior to the thefts. Price initiated the crime wave by stealing quad bikes from properties near Abergynolwyn in mid-August. Subsequently, Ryan Taylor travelled from West Mercia to collect the stolen bikes, highlighting the gang’s network and coordination.

The pattern of thefts escalated, with Price and Rodgerson committing further crimes in Harlech and the Dyffryn Ardudwy area, where they stole additional high-ticket items. The operation continued into October, with the gang committing further thefts while staying at Dolgamedd Holiday Park in Dolgellau.

The gang’s activities caused significant distress among local residents, many of whom felt vulnerable and intimidated by the crimes. Detective Constable Rebecca Williams from NWP stated, “Thefts of this nature deprive farming families of the tools they need to carry out their work, who are already stretched to the limit.” She emphasized the broader impact of these crimes on rural communities and the commitment of law enforcement to disrupt such activities.

Following extensive forensic investigations and analysis of mobile phone data, authorities successfully charged the gang members in May 2023. The sentences handed down reflect the severity of their crimes and serve as a warning against organised crime in rural areas.