HGC Gogledd Sir Fflint / NWP North Flintshire

15/10/2026

🏠 Don't leave your home in the dark! 🌙 As the nights draw in, opportunistic burglars look for dark houses at twilight because it’s obvious that no one is home.

Don't give them an easy invite. Here are a few simple ways to create an "illusion of occupancy" and protect your home:
• 🔌 Set your lamps on timers or smart plugs to turn on before it gets dark. Focus on the main rooms you actually use, like the living room or kitchen, rather than just the hallway.
• 📺 Use a cheap "Fake TV" light simulator or leave a radio playing. The flickering light and background noise make it look like someone is relaxing inside.
• Close the curtains 🛋️ If your lights are on timers, make sure the blinds or curtains are shut so thieves can't peer in and window-shop your valuables.
• Light up the outside 💡 Install dusk-to-dawn sensor lights by your doors to strip away any dark hiding spots.
• Lock up properly 🔒 Always double-lock your UPVC doors (lift the handle and turn the key) and never leave garden tools or ladders out for burglars to use.

14/10/2026

👇

👀 Do you know where your children are tonight?

With Halloween and Bonfire Night approaching, many young people will be out spending time with friends and enjoying the celebrations.

As parents and carers, you play a vital role in helping keep our communities safe.

✅ Know where your children are
✅ Know who they're with
✅ Agree a time they'll be home
✅ Talk about making sensible choices and respecting others

What starts as a bit of "fun" can quickly lead to anti-social behaviour, damage to property, or putting themselves and others at risk.

A simple conversation could make all the difference.

Let's work together to ensure Halloween and Bonfire Night are remembered for the right reasons.

Read more about Op Bang on our website 👉 https://orlo.uk/myb0g

14/10/2026

If you are unsure who is at your door, the golden rule is simple: if in doubt, keep them out. Genuine callers will never mind waiting outside or rescheduling while you verify their identity.

LOCK: Keep your front and back doors locked, even when you are at home. Bogus callers often work in pairs—one will distract you at the front door while an accomplice sneaks in through the back door or an unlocked window.
STOP: Before you answer, stop and think if you are expecting anyone. Look through a spyhole, viewer, or a nearby window to see who is there before touching the lock.
CHAIN: If you choose to open the door, put the safety chain or door bar on first. Keep it attached while you speak to the person through the gap.
CHECK: Always ask for official identification. Have them slide their ID badge through the letterbox or hold it up to the window.

Red Flags of Bogus Callers and Rogue Traders

- Urgency or high pressure: They try to rush you into a quick decision, claiming your roof is dangerously broken, your pipes are leaking into a neighbour's house, or you must act immediately.
- Distraction tactics: They ask you to go into the back garden, look at a boundary wall, or go fetch a ball or a glass of water. This is a common ruse to leave the front door completely unattended.
- Demanding cash up front: Legitimate businesses will not demand large, immediate cash payments on your doorstep for unexpected repairs.

Who to Contact

- Suspicious Behaviour: If you notice suspicious individuals or think a bogus caller is operating in your neighbourhood, call the non-emergency police line on 101 to report it.
- Immediate Danger: If a caller refuses to leave, tries to force their way inside, or makes you feel threatened, lock the door immediately and call 999.

14/10/2026

Great to get out on foot patrol with PCC Andy Dunbobbin around Shotton and Connah’s Quay today.

We called into Cafe Dai and spoke about the work taking place locally, including Op Bastion tackling retail crime, increased patrols around Shotton and Op Blue Instinct, our burglary reduction operation.

We also had plenty of chats with residents along the way — including one gentleman who knew my nanna and her siblings. A nice reminder of my own family roots here, and why I’m so proud to serve the community my family are from.

Always good to spend time out in the community, hear directly from people who live and work here and talk about the work being done to keep our towns safe.

14/10/2026

Have you seen Dixie? 🔽

We are appealing for information to trace Richard James Davies who is wanted by police.

The 44-year-old, also known as Dixie, has links to the Flintshire area.

Any sightings or information about his whereabouts can be reported to police by calling 101 or via the website using the link below, quoting reference number 26000776858

➡️ https://orlo.uk/N6GI5

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.

13/10/2026

We are aware of recent reports regarding youths causing disruptions in the Holywell area. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) inflicts serious harm on individuals, families, and our wider community, and it simply will not be tolerated. We are taking decisive action to address this, and our Neighbourhood team will be heavily increasing their visible patrols in the area to keep residents safe.

13/10/2026

A 36-year-old man has been charged with a series of domestic violence offences.

Thomas Lewis, of Coed Bach, Flint, is charged with eight offences.

They include three counts of breaching a domestic abuse protection order (DAPO), assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking involving serious alarm or distress, intentional strangulation and two counts of assault.

Lewis was remanded into custody to appear before Llandudno Magistrates Court today.

13/10/2026

Many people don’t secure their shed or garage in the same way they do their homes.

An opportunistic burglar will try a shed or garage first because they can find the tools they need to break into the main house.

The top five most common items stolen from sheds -
Bikes
Mowers
Sports equipment
Power tools
Garden tools

Please make your shed, garage and outbuildings secure.

For more crime prevention advice please visit https://orlo.uk/YE1oN

12/10/2026

🚔 OPERATION BLUE INSTINCT LAUNCHES IN FLINTSHIRE NORTH 🚔

As the darker evenings return, our neighbourhood policing teams are launching Operation Blue Instinct across Flintshire North.🏘️

The operation is focused on preventing burglary before it happens, particularly during the autumn and winter months when darker evenings can create greater opportunities for offenders.

Blue Instinct combines visible neighbourhood policing, targeted patrols, crime-prevention work, community engagement and enforcement activity. Officers will be working in residential areas, identifying vulnerable locations, offering practical home-security advice and targeting those involved in burglary and acquisitive crime.

The operation was originally introduced in Wrexham by Neighbourhood Sergeant Dave Smith, where it proved successful before being adopted in other areas.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Dave Smith said:

“Blue Instinct is something I’m really proud to have developed and launched in Wrexham City, and it was great to see the approach then adopted elsewhere.

“It’s about being visible, preventing crime before it happens and working closely with our communities to make it harder for offenders to operate.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the difference it can make here.”

As part of Operation Blue Instinct, residents can expect to see increased patrols, targeted activity in burglary hotspots, crime-prevention advice, engagement with local communities and intelligence-led action against offenders.

Residents can also help protect their homes by:

🔹 Locking doors and windows whenever they leave the property, even for a short time
🔹 Using timer switches to make lights come on when the property is unoccupied
🔹 Keeping valuables out of sight and away from windows
🔹 Securing sheds, garages and outbuildings with suitable locks
🔹 Keeping keys away from doors, windows and letterboxes
🔹 Making sure hedges, fences and gates do not provide cover for offenders
🔹 Asking a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on their home when they are away
🔹 Reporting suspicious behaviour to police and calling 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress

Residents are encouraged to speak to their local policing team, report suspicious behaviour and take simple steps to improve their home security.

Preventing burglary. Protecting our communities. Targeting offenders.

09/10/2026

Following our appeal yesterday to identify a dog walker in Flint in connection with our enquiries into the death of a man on 14 September, we can confirm the man has now been identified.

Thank you for your assistance in sharing our appeal.