Homes and businesses targeted in spate of thefts

Top ploughman

Householders were warned to be vigilant following a spate of burglaries in Stirling in late 1929 and early 1930.

Five homes and businesses had been targeted by thieves and police probing the raids made one arrest.

One of the house break-ins occurred at the Randolph Road home of a Captain McCutcheon who moved to the area after being appointed secretary to Stirling Royal Infirmary.

While he and his wife were out, a thief entered through a rear window and used an axe, taken from the kitchen, to prise open a roll-top desk.

A Kodak camera was taken as was £11 cash and between £20 and £30 in jewellery.

Drawers were pulled and war medals, belonging to the captain, were found by the thief but tossed aside.

Capt McCutcheon thought the break-in was the work of an expert as no fingerprints were left.

He said the thief had departed in a hurry through the back door - having been disturbed by someone who called at the house - and had overlooked other valuables.

Another break-in occurred on New Year’s morning 1930, at the

Ashworth and foreman engineer Mr Charles Duncan designed the tower and construction was carried out by Mr Samuel McQueen, builder, Thornhill. butcher’s premises in King Street occupied by Mr Fredrick Ludwig. A small amount of cash was taken and the cash register smashed.

A few days later a young Stirling man, described as a canvasser, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court charged with the break-in at Mr Ludwig’s premises, stealing cash from Messrs Mathieson, bakers, Barnton Street, and with entering Lipton’s, also Barnton Street, with intent to steal.

According to the Observer, the accused had been apprehended thanks to the commendable action of Mr JH Fenton, jeweller, Barnton Street. He and his wife lived opposite Lipton’s and Mathieson’s and before going to bed one night Mrs Fenton was standing at the parlour window and heard a door being closed.

She became suspicious as she thought it sounded like a door of one of the shops closing. She alerted her husband, a special constable during the war, who hurried into the street. He challenged a man who `emerged from the shadows’ and then led him to the police station where he was charged with the offences.

Meanwhile, another burglary was reported at Hill Street, St Ninians, when jewellery was taken while the occupants were out.

The clock with its four faces, each of two foot six inches diameter, had no works of its own and was controlled electrically from the master clock at the mill works.

Donald Ferguson, Garchel, Buchlyvie, was the youngest competitor in Strathendrick Ploughing Society’s annual match held at Drumtian Farm in January, 1930. He is pictured with his horses which were adjudged the best decorated pair on the field.