Woman and man charged in connection with alleged thefts

An 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man have been charged in connection with numerous alleged break-ins at businesses in Aberdeenshire, including the Ramsay Arms Hotel in Fettercairn and the Quayside Restaurant in Gourdon.

Officers were made aware of the incidents in March and May and, following extensive inquiries, the pair from Banff were arrested and charged at the weekend.

In total they have been charged in connection with five alleged theft by housebreakings in the north-east, an alleged intended theft and an alleged attempted housebreaking.

Detective Sergeant Bruce Buntain said: “I would like to thank the numerous members of the public who have assisted with these investigations.

He added: “Acquisitive crimes can be devastating for the victims involved and they won’t be tolerated.

“We take action every day to ensure the north-east remains one of the safest places to live in Scotland and, when the worst does happen, we do everything we can to ensure such crimes don’t happen again.

“Generally, in some cases that are reported to police the individuals involved force entry to gain access to your valuables, however we often find in others that targeted properties or vehicles have been left insecure.

“Once again I would urge the public to ensure your valuables are always locked away and secure – a couple of minutes of ensuring all your doors are locked can help avoid any hassle and heartbreak further down the line.

“It’s never too late to make your home security a priority to make it impossible for people to gain access to your valuables.”