Kittochside theft cops appeal for witnesses
A gang of masked thugs who broke into Kittochside House and terrorised an East Kilbride family were in the area up to two hours before they carried out their violent robbery.
The callous quartet ransacked the property in the early hours of Saturday, April 14 – hitting a man on the leg with a machete.
The 55-year-old was assaulted when he, his 56-year-old wife and their 26-year-old son were confronted by the gang who had broken in to the family’s detached home near the National Museum of Rural Life.
The family, named locally as John Davidson, wife Caroline and son Gavin, were held in a bedroom upstairs whilst the suspects ransacked the property, taking a sum of cash, jewellery, car keys and the family’s black Range Rover.
Mr Davidson snr was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Hairmyres where he was treated for a leg injury and has since been released.
The suspects are described as white, with local accents and wearing dark clothing and had scarves/ balaclavas covering their faces.
One of them was in his early 20s and had on a grey hoodie with the hood covering his face.
And police believe they may have carried out another robbery hours earlier in North Lanarkshire.
Detective Inspector Susie Cairns of Cambuslang CID said: “The suspects, along with a fifth man who was waiting outside in a black Nissan Qashqai, fled the house in the two cars along Carmunnock bypass and then towards Croftfoot Road and Blairbeth Road, before abandoning the Range Rover in the Mount Vernon area.
“A black Nissan Qashqai was recovered burnt out in Kirkton Place, Blantyre around 1.45 am on Tuesday morning [April 17].
“We know from our enquiries that the men involved had been in the Kittochside area for at least two hours prior to the robbery, so are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone or vehicles hanging about from 2am onwards.
“The robbery was violent and the men had absolutely no regard for anyone in the house.
“It was a horrible and very frightening experience for the family who genuinely feared for the life throughout the ordeal.
DI Cairns added: “We’re also looking into the possibility that the same men were responsible for a further robbery, resulting in the theft of a VW Golf from outside a hotel near to Bellziehill Roundabout, Bellshill around 10.30pm on Friday, April 13.
“A black Nissan Qashqai is also thought to have been involved in this incident.
“If you have any information, including dashcam footage of the car in either Kittochside, Bellshill or Blantyre that may assist our investigation, then please contact Cambuslang CID via 101, quoting incident number 0782 of Saturday 14 April 2018.”
Witnesses can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given confidentially.