Police activity in Penycae explained after appeal launched after robbery

Police activity in the Penycae area late last night has been explained by local officers.

North Wales Police have today launched an appeal following a robbery involving the theft of a car from Ffordd Llanerch, Afoneitha.

The incident took place at 8:10pm on Sunday (10 April) when it was reported stated that two males, one of whom held a knife, had approached a male car driver and his passenger.

Police say both suspects made threats to harm the car’s occupants, who then exited the vehicle.

The car, a blue Vauxhall Astra, was then driven away by the suspects in the direction of Plas Madoc.

The report prompted a significant police response, involving patrol officers, Armed Response Vehicles and dog units, with aerial support provided by NPAS.

The police helicopter was seen over the Penycae, Johnstown and Ponciau areas – the track above.

Officers subsequently located the vehicle, which was found abandoned close to Aberderfyn Road, near Ponciau.

Follow-up enquiries resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect at an address in Penycae.

Heli now left area. Appears it was supporting armed police and dog units in the Aberderfyn Road area, with interest in an abandoned car. https://t.co/CBreoBSA65

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) April 10, 2022

Chief Inspector Gavin Gilmore said: “Clearly this crime was serious in nature and I’d like to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident.

“Our enquiries remain ongoing, but we have established that the suspect’s motivation may have related to a previous domestic issue and that the victim was deliberately targeted.

“I would also like to praise the multi-unit police response, which resulted in the swift safeguarding of the victim, the locating of the stolen vehicle and the arrest of one suspect.

“We expect to make further arrests soon in relation to this incident.”

Anyone with further information in relation to this crime can report online: https://orlo.uk/ae1vn or via 101 quoting incident reference 22000246477.