This seems to have been a full-on week for criminal enterprise in Newport, the businesses trying to bring some sense of occasion to Newport, yet again are being broken into repeatedly.
I wonder how the owners, managers and staff feel?
They must be frightened, probably wondering what is the point.
The police and their support services are keen to engage with the perpetrators, yet most of us recognise that even if they are apprehended, the sentencing processes do not reflect the impact on those they target.
There doesn't seem to be any significant inroads into crime in Gwent and in particular Newport.
No one going into the 'city' has any illusions about what is likely to confront them at some stage of their 'journey into the unknown', often as early as 11am.
Having recently walked down School Lane at around this time, a group of women and men, in their 30s and maybe younger, were screaming at a rival group of similar adults; this seemed to be related to illicit drug deals.
What a sad state of affairs, what a dreadful situation to be in, for these people who seemed literally mindless, not mindful.
Like so many older people, I do go back in time and remember this city/town as being fun and safe; this is not something one can easily recognise now.
Recently I had a conversation with an employee of Newport City Council, who considered that Newport was a great place, because you didn't know what was around each corner, granted he was in a managerial role, not 'working the streets' role.
For myself, it is exactly that concern that now provides a degree of trepidation on my few visits to our once great town centre.
Ms Mudd wants to give more taxpayers' money to community groups to fund appropriate activities; well, could I suggest one of them might include the crime commissioner and her team to spend real time in Newport, not just for photo opportunities.
At the same time, perhaps some of the funding she is so willing to redirect could be redirected to meet the needs of those who feel abandoned by Labour's inept policies.
Perhaps encouraging those who are active in the illicit drug world to get more involved in voluntary activities; surely this would be more worthwhile than initiatives that are for public approval as opposed to making any difference to what is happening at ground level.
Ms Mudd may believe that communities have the 'power to create lasting change '; alas, we don't, as political processes have made it nigh on impossible for anyone to intervene in wrongdoing or indeed want to take risks that will endanger their own lives.
Marian McNulty,
Newport.
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