Three Merthyr Tydfil teenagers who broke into a supermarket in the early hours of the morning armed with a machete, and helped themselves to cake, Lucozade and a bucket of ‘empty’ vapes have been sentenced.
Cody Bond, 18, was with two other accomplices, who cannot be named due to their age, when he smashed his way through a glass door and entered the Tesco supermarket in Merthyr Tydfil town centre on May 28, 2025.
An alarm was activated and supermarket staff alerted police – shortly after, officers armed with taser spotted them hiding behind bins in a nearby alleyway.
One of the boys emerged from behind the bin armed with a machete. but he was quickly disarmed and arrested, without a taser being discharged.
Seconds later, Cody Bond and the other male were arrested and taken into custody.
CCTV captured them smashing their way into the store and running through the isles, taking what they wanted from the shelves.
They helped themselves to drinks, cake, and a bucket of vapes which, unbeknown to them, were all empty.
It also captured each of them in possession of the machete at different times.
All three were charged with aggravated burglary and possessing a knife in a public place and all went on to plead guilty.
Cody Bond, 18, was sentenced to 40 months in a young offender’s institution at Cardiff Crown Court on August 21. The other two males had already been sentenced in June and July – one was given a Youth Rehabilitation Supervision Order and the other was referred to a Youth Offender’s Panel.
Detective Constable Chris Phillips, said: “All three males are known to South Wales Police and have caused problems in communities across Merthyr Tydfil. Cody Bond is now spending a considerable time at a young offender’s institution, away from friends, and family, which will no doubt come as a hard lesson.
“It is the harsh reality which young people involved in crime and anti-social behaviour eventually face. I hope all three use this time to reflect on their decisions and understand that there are other more productive pathways away from crime and anti-social behaviour.”
