Warning after firebugs strike

Youths set derelict building alight

Fire crews spent more than three hours battling flames on Sunday evening after a group of youths set a derelict building in Cambusbarron alight.

A group of four male vandals, described as being between 15 and 17 years of age, broke into an unused outbuilding near to Gartur House on Quarry Road before setting a number of small fires and running off at around 8pm.

Fire crews from Bridge of Allan, Dunblane and Doune attended and found the ground floor and first floor “well alight”.

Water jets were used and the fire was put out by 11.20pm when the incident was handed over to the police.

Police also found that a window of a nearby JCB vehicle had been smashed by the vandals.

One of those responsible was wearing a blue top with a black hat, another was said to be wearing a dark top and a grey t-shirt with brown hair and the remaining two are described as being of medium build.

Police are looking into CCTV footage and liaising with schoolbased officers in a bid to identify those responsible.

In a separate incident, vandals smashed windows and damaged an entrance door before gaining entry to an unused, cordoned-off area of Stirling Community Hospital some time between 5pm on Thursday (April 21) and 7.30am the following morning.

The section of the hospital targeted backs on to Burghmuir Road. Two windows were broken near a fire door and entry was gained although nothing was taken by the culprits.

It is thought those responsible may have been visible from Burghmuir Road.

Police are keen to stress how dangerous breaking into such buildings can be while appealing for anyone who can identify those responsible come forward.

Stirling Area Commander Lynn Ratcliff spoke to highlight the extreme dangers such incidents pose to those involved.

Chief Inspector Ratcliff said: “We really want to get a message across, especially to parents, that this sort of thing is extremely dangerous.

“It may well be that younger people are using these buildings as places to gather – as a den – but they pose a very real risk.

“Under no circumstances should you go into a derelict building and we want parents to get on-board with that message.

“The last thing anyone wants is for a child to suffer a serious injury.”

Anyone with any information which can help police identify those responsible for either incident should call 101.