Appeal launched by police after parcels stolen from doorsteps in Wrexham within minutes of delivery

Residents are being urged not to leave parcels “unattended outside your home” after reports of thieves taking items from people’s doorsteps.

In the Wrexham area a parcel containing a valuable glass sculpture was stolen from outside an address in the Offa area on Monday ( 8th February).

A police spokesperson confirmed that there had been reports of a female with “ginger hair, black clothes and red trainers” along with a man with an “orange jacket” seen unpacking a hoover – also reported as stolen – and “dumping the packaging behind a bench and walking down Victoria Road”. There is a mention that the man could have a ‘Poirot-like’ small moustache.

The pair were seen at around 3:10pm on Monday in the Court Road area.

Anyone with any information about the parcel theft or the couple is asked to contact North Wales Police on 101 quoting reference number Z018231.

The victim of the theft has explained his concerns about the nature of the incident due to a very tight timeframe of a few minutes where the theft took place, “Whilst they could clearly be indicative of an opportunist thief, the short time frame together with the link to a separate theft of a ‘hoover’ indicates that certain individuals may be looking for such items to steal.”

“Again, the short time-frame between delivery and theft raises the possibility that they are even following couriers or their likely routes. Whilst they were seen walking, such would raise the possibility of some sort of vehicle as well – which may indicate why they were not found subsequently.”

NWP Wrexham Town are now urging people to make alternative arrangements for delivery or sort an alternative location for the parcel to be stored to help deter thieves.

The following advice has also been made available on the North Wales Police website:

• Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery
• Install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system
• Install a security light
• Arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home; if you live in a flat, is there a concierge who could accept the parcel for you?
• Use an off-site locker service for frequent deliveries, or for expensive items; these parcel boxes are more likely to be in busy, safer locations – such as supermarkets – rather than secluded areas which could be targeted by thieves

Anyone with any information about the parcel theft or the couple is asked to contact North Wales Police on 101 quoting reference number Z018231.