Police warning to Aberdeenshire householders
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POLICE Scotland is urging people to remain vigilant against thieves following a recent spate of daytime thefts and housebreakings in rural Aberdeenshire.
The thefts have mainly focused around the Formartine and Buchan areas of Aberdeenshire.
Police want members of the public to make it difficult for any further thefts to take place and to help bring those responsible to justice.
PC Kevin Marron, crime reduction officer, said: "It is always a good idea to make your house look occupied with the use of daytime lighting, radios and devices that make it look like your television is on.
"Homeowners should ensure that through the use of blinds and other window coverings there is no direct line of sight into their homes. Gates should always be closed and I would urge homeowners not to leave valuable or desirable items in view."
"It is important to remove any easy chances for thieves. Simple steps such as keeping your valuables out of sight or ensuring all garden equipment and tools are securely locked away can be a vital step in preventing a crime from taking place.
"Long term approaches such as installing a visible alarm or the correct type of glass and other security products can also help to deter criminals."
Chief Inspector Richard Craig, Area Commander for Aberdeenshire South, said: "These are opportunistic break-ins by criminals looking for houses that are clearly unoccupied during the daytime.
"Those involved are using vehicles to travel around and it is possible that members of the public will see these vehicles in suspicious circumstances.
"Our rural areas are busy with farmers, walkers and cyclists and we would ask that they report anything out of the ordinary to us. Please note the details of the vehicle, descriptions of anyone you see and call Police straight away to let us know about it.
"Aberdeenshire is a low crime area and these kinds of incidents are not common to our rural communities. I would encourage residents to look out for each other and report anything suspicious to us. Our local officers will continue their patrols and preventative activities, but with your assistance we can proactively target and catch those responsible.
"Anyone who witnesses anyone acting suspiciously in their area, or has any information, can contact Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous."
