The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Police slammed over response to saplings theft
Businessman says officers are still to speak to him after 100 plants are stolen
A businessman has slammed Police Scotland for their “slow” response to the theft of almost 100 leylandii saplings.
Officers are still to speak to Rod Sim a week after thieves made off with the trees, which were planted on a building site near Errol.
Mr Sim believes the thieves used a large van or an estate car to make off with the 2ft plants and associated equipment.
He said: “I phoned Police Scotland and reported it. They said they’d get an officer out to me the next day and they phoned back that evening and said there was no officers available so they would contact me in the next week, but I’ve still not heard anything from them.
“I don’t think they are taking it seriously – it’s funny because someone has taken leylandii trees but the response has been ridiculous.
“I think it’s a drastic failing on the part of Police Scotland the fact that there’s no police coverage in these types of areas – they are more focused on city centres.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We confirm that officers are making inquiries into the theft of around 100 leylandii sapling trees from a building site at Inchcoonans, Errol, Perthshire, that happened sometime between 6pm on Wednesday April 13 and 7am Thursday April 14.
“If an individual wishes to discuss concerns regarding an incident, Police Scotland can be contacted on 101.”
Anyone who has information that could assist officers with their inquiries is asked to contact Police Scotland.
Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.