POLICE believe the thieves who raided a Blaenavon corner shop on February 1 may also be responsible for slashing the tyres on two police cars in Brynmawr earlier that night.
Today (February 14), Gwent Police released CCTV footage of the suspects, who smashed their truck into the front of the Co-op store in Blaenavon and stole cash from an ATM.
And a spokeswoman for Gwent Police confirmed officers were investigating a potential link between that burglary and the tyre-slashing.
At approximately 12.45am on Friday, February 1, a 4x4 – believed to be a Mitsubishi Pajero – pulled into Somerset Street, near Brynmawr Police Station.
A passenger got out and approached two police cars, puncturing four tyres. An officer's personal vehicle was also targeted.
And then, at 2.10am, police believe the same vehicle was used as a getaway car by the Co-op burglars in Blaenavon.
There, three suspects rammed the shop front using a pick-up truck, believed to be a white Nissan Navara.
They then used a disc cutter to remove the ATM built into the shop front.
After stealing the cash, they drove off in the direction of Llanover Road in a vehicle believed by police to be the same silver or gey Mitsubishi Pajero.
Gwent Police have re-issued their appeal for help along with the CCTV images of the suspected burglars – thought to be three men – and their vehicles.
Police also believe the offenders were in the area outside the store approximately an hour before the burglary took place.
In a statement on the Blaenavon burglary, a Gwent Police spokesman said: "Officers are investigating this incident and are appealing for information."
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He added: "If you saw the incident take place, or if you saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area or if you have information about the offenders, please let us know.
"If you can help, please call 101, quoting log number 43 01/02/19.
"Alternatively, you can send a direct message to our Gwent Police Facebook or Twitter social media accounts or you can report information anonymously via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111."
And of the Brynmawr tyre-slashing, Blaenau Gwent inspector Amanda Thomas said on February 5: “This appears to be a premeditated attack on our vehicles in the Blaenau Gwent area. I’m asking anyone who may have any information to please contact us.
“That night, it was snowing, our vehicles are vital to the work carried out by the emergency services and more so when bad weather sets in and we need to get to parts of the community that need us most.
“The loss of two police cars can have a serious impact on the way in which emergencies are dealt with."
The incident number for the tyre-slashing is 19 01/02/19.
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