The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Raids on takeaways could be connected
Crime: Police ‘keeping an open mind’ on whether Perth and Dundee robberies linked
Cash raids on Perth city centre takeaways may be linked to similar thefts elsewhere in Tayside.
Hundreds of pounds were stolen over three break-ins during the weekend. Nearly £1,000 was taken from Maza on High Street, and the nearby Chinese Buffet on South Street and Shanghai on Hospital Street were also targeted, losing £400 and £500, respectively.
Officers are scouring CCTV footage for images of those responsible.
The incidents followed a string of robberies of restaurants and fast food outlets in Dundee and Broughty Ferry.
A police spokesman told The Courier: “We are keeping an open mind as to whether they are linked to crimes in Dundee.”
Police are “keeping an open mind” on a possible link regarding a spate of break-ins to takeaway restaurants in Perth and Dundee.
A gang of thieves stole almost £1,000 in recent days when they raided the Maza restaurant on High Street, Perth, along with the City Buffet restaurant on South Street and the Shanghai takeaway on Hospital Street.
These crimes all took place overnight Sunday/ Monday along with an attempted break-in to a flat adjoining the Maza restaurant.
Yesterday, a spokesperson for Police Scotland’s Tayside Division confirmed officers are reviewing CCTV in a bid to track down the thieves and did not rule out a possible link to a series of similar break-ins to takeaway businesses in Dundee.
“Inquiries are continuing regarding these break-ins and we are keeping an open mind as to whether they are linked to crimes in Dundee,” she told The Courier.
She also confirmed that £400 was stolen at City Buffet and £500 at Shanghai restaurants in Perth.
These crimes follow a similar spate of break-ins to several premises in Dundee. Hannah’s takeaway in Broughty Ferry was raided last month with £500 being stolen.
And shops on Cleghorn Street, Strathmartine Road, Clepington Road and the High Street in Lochee were all targeted by thieves between Tuesday March 1 and Thursday 3.
Two of these raids resulted in thieves stealing money.
And in a separate incident, thieves also recently broke-in to a Greggs bakery in a Strathmartine Road shopping centre, Dundee, and made off with a safe containing around £5,000.
Police believe more than one person and a vehicle was involved in this crime.
Anyone with any information that may be useful concerning these crimes should contact Police Scotland, Tayside Division, on 101, or any police officer. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.