Two separate teams of travelling criminal housebreakers have been brought to justice by Police Scotland in Perth and Kinross over the last week (March 20 – March 24, 2014).
Following a spate of crimes reported by communities across the area, dedicated police resources were put in place to identify the offenders.
Investigations by the Perth Community Investigation Unit and CID led to five men, aged in their 20s, being identified as being responsible.
These individuals, from the Glasgow and Ayrshire areas, have since appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and have been remanded on petition. Around £30,000 worth of stolen property, including two quad bikes and a quantity of gardening machinery, has been recovered.
Detective Inspector Andy Patrick, the head of Perth CID said: “This type of crime has a devastating impact on victims and our local communities. I want criminals to be in no doubt that housebreaking in Perth and Kinross will not be tolerated. If you are found to be involved in crimes of this nature you will be caught and you will face criminal proceedings.
“I want to reassure communities in Perth and Kinross that we have dedicated resources in place to robustly investigate all reports of housebreaking and I would ask homeowners to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity they witness to police.”
DC Gary Lamb from Perth Community Investigation Unit said “The public have an important part to play in ensuring the success of policing operations by helping us prevent acquisitive crime from occurring. Home and business owners are advised to consider their current security measures to make sure they are adequate.
“If you wish to improve these existing measures and require more information on crime prevention then please contact Police Scotland on101 or speak to your local policing teams.”
