A South Wales Police sergeant has named shoplifting as the "biggest thing" in terms of crimes committed in Penarth recently.

During a meeting with Penarth Town Council, Sgt Sam Johnson said that shoplifters have been "crossing in from the Cardiff area" to steal goods.

Eight instances of shoplifting were reported in the town in January (the most recent statistics available), all of which took place in St Augustine's ward.

"Our biggest thing was shoplifting in St Augustine's, but that's all to do with Tesco in Terra Nova way," Sgt Johnson explained.

"There's been a lot of theft and it tends to be people crossing in from the Cardiff area."

The Tesco Superstore in Terra Nova way is situated directly opposite the Pont Y Werin footbridge, which perhaps explains the incidence rate.

An employee at the store this morning told Nub News that "shoplifters are always about" and that she had seen incidents herself.

According to Cllr Gary Allman, the Boots on Windsor Road has also been targeted.

"Last week I was in Boots in the town centre which was targeted three times in one day," he said.

"They were gong in a particularly pinching No. 7 makeup. Snatch and grab."

He said the manager of the store suspected that they had been targeted because they do not employ security staff, unlike other branches in the area.

The spate of shopliftings comes amid an otherwise quiet period for crime in Penarth.

"Apart from that, the crime figures are quite low," Sgt Johnson continued.

A total of 77 crimes were reported to police in January, down from 133 the previous month.

Forty of these were committed in the combined St Augustine's and Plymouth wards.

Reports of "stalking and sexual harassment" continue in these areas.

Sgt Johnson had previously attributed such reports to a single person "with numerous mental health issues. It's not the same victim and it's harassment rather than stalking."

Eighteen crimes were reported in Llandough ward, 13 in Cornerswell and six in Stanwell.

Police say they are working with Tesco to reduce incidents of shoplifting.