String of arrests in police operation to stamp out rural crime wave.

Angus glens: Several arrests made as police make tackling rural crime a priority

An operation to stamp out a rise in rural crime in Angus and Perthshire has led to a string of arrests.

Additional night-shift patrols, plainclothes and roads policing officers all contributed to a “significant reduction” in offences in the past four weeks.

The area commander for Angus said tackling the crime spree became the highest priority for the force locally and pledged officers would continue to focus on rural areas.

Chief Inspector David Mcintosh revealed the division’s “acquisitive crime group” was appointed to take charge along with Angus Local Policing Area (LPA).

Farmers and gamekeepers were put on red alert following a spate of thefts and vandal attacks which struck the normally tranquil Angus glens.

There were break-ins at several estates in Glenesk.

Following an incident in Brechin, five men from Dundee were arrested in Arbroath, while another four from Angus were also arrested and, following a series of crimes in the Blairgowrie and Strathardle areas, police arrested another three.

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There remains a need not to be complacent and to encourage our rural communities to take steps to secure valuable property and report any suspicious activity. CI DAVID MCINTOSH

Mr Mcintosh said: “All of the arrests were a consequence of police proactivity and are pending prosecution.”

He added that there had been “a significant reduction in rural crime” in the affected areas in the last four weeks.

However, he insisted householdersand businesses had to take steps to protect themselves.

“There remains a need not to be complacent and to encourage our rural communities to take steps to secure valuable property and report any suspicious activity,” he said.

Liam Kerr, Conservative MSP for the north-east region, said the police should be “commended for their swift and apparently effective action”.

He said: “I contacted Chief Inspector David Mcintosh recently following a spate of thefts and vandalism on Angus glens estates.

“Residents and landowners have been rightfully concerned over a surge in crime in areas which are normally tranquil places to live and work.

“Mr Mcintosh very quickly responded to me and reported that there had been a considerable rise in reported rural crimes in Angus and neighbouring Perthshire.

“He said the issue was now of the highest priority for Tayside Division of Police Scotland.

“I am satisfied to note a number of schemes have led to a reduction in rural crime over the past month.

“However, anyone who is unsure of their safety can now contact the new Rural Watch initiative in Angus, and should heed Chief Inspector Mcintosh’s advice over what steps people can take themselves.”

gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk