Brazen thief took boat from marina

ARBROATH: Search for vessel stolen in broad daylight

Police are hunting a bold thief following the bizarre theft of a yacht from Arbroath harbour at the weekend.

The brazen crook is believed to have sailed out of the Angus marina aboard the 27-foot Osprey on Saturday afternoon.

The boat’s Fife owner has not seen the vessel since.

Police and Coastguard are carrying out inquiries into the theft, which was reported around 3.30pm on Saturday, with fishermen and other regular marina users interviewed over the weekend in the hope of solving the unusual crime.

The boat, which is white with a blue spray hood, was taken from pontoons packed with vessels owned by regular Arbroath harbour users and visiting craft.

One local said: “I would have thought it would be difficult to get far very quickly without someone noticing.”

A rare portrait of Vincent Van Gogh, painted by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, is expected to fetch £1,200 at auction in Edinburgh this week.

Fife-born Vettriano is thought to have completed the work in the ’80s.

During that period, Vettriano taught himself how to paint by copying the old masters, and signed his works using his birth name, Jack Hoggan.

The 24x19cm oil painting on board is based on a famous 1889 self-portrait by the Dutch master.

It will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Home and Interiors Sale on Wednesday, estimated at £800-1,200.

Chris Brickley, Bonhams’ Head of Scottish Art, said: “This painting is from before he adopts the name Vettriano. Relatively few of these works come in for sale.”