DYFED-POWYS Police close investigations without identifying a suspect in six out of 10 household burglaries and a third of reported vehicle thefts, new analysis shows.

They also ended almost a quarter of shoplifting cases with the same outcome. Across the three offences, around 1,000 investigations in Dyfed-Powys were shut with no suspected culprit in the frame, the Press Association found.

The revelations prompted warnings that victims could be put off reporting offences, while criminals are given a “green light to reoffend”.

Police chiefs say increased demand and reduced officer numbers mean they have to prioritise cases where there is a realistic chance of prosecution.

The figures were extracted from Home Office crime outcomes data, and cover the 12 months to March 2018.

They show that out of the 859 household burglary cases opened over that period by Dyfed-Powys Police, 62 per cent were categorised as “investigation complete - no suspect identified”. This is used when a reported crime has been investigated “as far as reasonably possible” and the case is closed pending further investigative opportunities.

Of the total burglary cases, Dyfed-Powys Police brought 35 people to court.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs committee, said: “Too many investigations are closing without suspects being identified and we are hearing increasing reports of the police being too over-stretched to investigate.”

Of the 218 vehicle thefts recorded in Dyfed-Powys, 34 per cent ended up with no suspect being identified, while in the 1,846 shoplifting cases, 425 of them were closed with the same outcome.

The police charged 24 suspects with car theft, and 441 for shoplifting.

Head of CID, Detective Chief Superintendent Shane Williams said: “Dyfed-Powys Police provides a professional response to every investigation, prioritising those where there is the most threat of harm towards the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“We look for viable lines of enquiries in all investigations and we have review processes in place to ensure we do not miss opportunities in the investigation.”

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