Police probe gangland link to Gleneagles robbery

DETECTIVES investigating an armed robbery at Gleneagles hotel are probing possible links with Glasgow gangland figures after a vehicle was found abandoned in the city.

A team of officers is investigating if the car was used as the second getaway vehicle by raiders who made off with £350,000 worth of upmarket jewellery.

The armed gang, believed to be four men, smashed their way into the Mappin & Webb store in the hotel complex on Tuesday morning.

They escaped in a blue Audi that was abandoned a short distance from the hotel and are believed to have transferred to a second vehicle.

It is understood CCTV footage captured a second vehicle ‘of interest’ which left the area a short time later and which has since been traced in Glasgow. The possibility that a fifth gang member was waiting in a second vehicle parked close to Gleneagles Station is also being looked at by detectives.

A source close to the case said: ‘The first suspicion was that this would have been a gang from down south with little connection to the area as it had clearly been planned in advance. however, it seems that the answers may be found slightly closer to home as this second vehicle is said to be a promising lead in the investigation. There are people from the Glasgow area who might be of interest to the investigation.’

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Patrick, who is leading the inquiry, confirmed nobody was hurt. he said: ‘This was a shocking, but thankfully rare, incident.

‘Three of them entered the premises and brandished weapons at staff and made off with a quantity of watches.’