Security briefing for all Enchanted Forest staff
Perth and Kinross area commander Chief Inspector Ian Scott compiled this week’s Crime Beat column.
If you can help police with any of the appeals get in touch on 101 or you can speak in confidence to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Enchanted Forest is now set up and it opened to the public on Thursday, September 28, in Faskally Woods, Pitlochry.
As a result there will be around 2500 visitors to the site each evening between 5.30pm and 11pm for the duration of the event.
Coaches will continuously convey guests between Fishers Hotel and the site at Faskally. This is likely to greatly increase the volume of traffic within Atholl Road over the period of the event.
This year extra security has been put in place at the Fishers Hotel departure point for coaches and also on site at the venue.
All staff working on the event have received a security briefing from police in relation to suspicious packages and what to do in the event of an emergency incident.
I would like to remind visitors to the event to ensure they take adequate precautions for their safety and the security of their vehicles and belongings.
Please ensure that your vehicle is secured with no valuables left within. Also be careful with your personal belongings including bags, phones and cameras.
Don’t leave anything lying around as the dark location could be an ideal location for an opportunist thief to part you from your belongings.
Visitors should also be careful for their own safety. With the darker nights and the increased traffic volume, extra care should be taken both as a motorist and as a pedestrian.
I hope that everyone visiting the event has a safe and enjoyable time.
INCIDENT UPDATES
A large-scale search and rescue operation was mounted on Tuesday, September 26, after a car was found submerged in the River Tay near to Walnut Grove. The operation was stood down after it was confirmed that the car was empty. Enquiries are continuing to establish how the car ended up in the water.
RECENT INCIDENTS
Between 10pm on Monday, September 25, and 6.30am on Tuesday, September 26, an attempt was made to break-in to the Corner Shop Newsagents, Abbot Street, Perth.
A gas meter was disconnected and stolen from a property on Ruthvenfield Road, Perth some time on Monday, September 11.
Between 6pm on Monday, September 25, and 7.30am on Tuesday, September 26, a wing mirror was damaged on a grey Audi A5 motor car parked in Matalan Car Park, Victoria Street, Perth.
Two bicycles were stolen overnight on Friday, September 15, from a garden in Goodlyburn Terrace, Perth. The bikes are described as a black and green modified BSD trail or park framed bike with United forks and bars and Profile wheels; and a green Haro framed bike with BSD Ghetto V2 forks and a United seat.
During the day on Monday, September 25, a pink Apollo girl’s bicycle was stolen from a garden in Fairhill Crescent, Perth.
A thief stole a television from Enchanted Forest
Angus Forbes the Salutation Hotel, South Street, Perth at midnight on Thursday, September 28. The thief was a white woman, about 5’4” tall, slim, aged 30-40 years with long brown hair. She was wearing dark trainers with white soles, jeans and a khaki-green parka-style jacket.
A silver and black Carrera mountain bike was stolen from the garden area at the rear of 117 Scott Street, Perth, between 5pm on Tuesday, September 26, and 1pm on Wednesday, September 27.
Between 5pm and 9.30 pm on Saturday, September 30, a house was broken into on Linton Terrace, Perth.
Overnight on Tuesday, September 29, a garage was broken into on Huntingtower Road, Perth, and two picnic chairs were stolen.
A silver Volvo XC70 was damaged when the paintwork was scored between 4pm on Wednesday, September 27, and 10am on Thursday, September 28, while parked in Toll House Gardens, Perth.
Graffiti was spray painted on the close door at 41 South Street, Perth, between Wednesday, September 27, and Thursday, September 28.
A black Renault Kadjar had the paintwork scratched while parked in Muirhall Road, Perth between Friday, September 29, and Monday, October 2. This was the second vehicle to be vandalised in Muirhall Road in a week as overnight on Tuesday, September 26, a blue Volvo was damaged when the bodywork was scratched.
Between Friday, September 29, and Monday, October 2, two bins were set on fire at Methven Primary School, Main Street, Methven.
The Subway roadside restaurant on the A9 near Braco was broken into between 2am and 5am on Monday, October 2. Officers are keen to trace drivers who may have captured any footage on dash-cams of suspicious people or vehicles in the area between these times.
A wooden garden gate measuring about three feet wide by five feet tall was unscrewed and stolen from Shinafoot Farm, Dunning Road, Auchterarder, between 4pm on Wednesday, September 27, and 9am on Thursday, September 28.
A shipping container on Glenburn Road, Auchterarder, was broken into between July and September and a fitted kitchen and a quantity of timber were stolen.
A petrol power washer, a strimmer and a lawn mower were stolen from Paradise Avenue, Bridge of Earn, between 5.30pm on Wednesday, September 20, and 10pm on Thursday, September 21.
Since the middle of August there has been an increase in youths causing annoyance and incidents of vandalism at Dunbarney Primary School, Main Street, Bridge of Earn. The vandalism includes graffiti and damage to playground furniture. In the past the school grounds have been left open to allow the local community to use them but if the vandalism and inappropriate use of the grounds continue then this facility will no longer be available. I urge parents of children living in the village and surrounding areas to ensure their children are not involved in this flagrant abuse of a community facility.
During the weekend of Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 1, a number of vandalism offences took place in Milnathort. Milnathort Golf Club sustained damage to the putting green and signs, Orwell Bowling Club sustained damage to a waste pipe, damage to lighting and damage to the green and the outside garden area at Heaven Scent was damaged.
A thief stole loose change and an iPhone from an insecure vehicle parked in a driveway at Kinfauns Holding between 4pm on Sunday, September 24, and 8am on Monday, September 25. These opportunist thefts can easily be prevented by locking vehicles and ensuring no valuables are left within sight.
At about 6.45pm on Wednesday, September 27, a silver and blue Suzuki GSX 1300cc Hayabusa motorbike, registered number W266OSL, was stolen from Elm Court, Alyth.
Between 1.45pm and 4.30pm on Sunday, October 1, a red Volkswagen Touran car had a tyre punctured while parked at the rear of Alyth Parish Church, Bamff Road, Alyth.
Between 2.30pm on Thursday, September 28, and 9.30am on Friday, September 29, a sneakin theft took place at a house in Glenshee Drive, Rattray. Householders are urged to ensure their property is secured at all times, even when they are within, to prevent these thefts taking place.
A gold-plated, solid silver dessert fork was stolen from the state dining room at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, between 10.15am and 2.15pm on Saturday, September 30. The fork has the family crest embossed on it.
Between 3pm and 4pm on Thursday, September 28, a young boy aged 10-14, about 5 feet tall, thin with light brown hair, damaged the window of Humanos Aid International, Bridgend, Aberfeldy, by thumping on it. This same boy has been banging on the window frequently, causing annoyance to the shop staff.