Thieves have gone on a rampage across Moray, raiding thousands of pounds worth of goods from businesses.
A string of premises across the region have been targeted this month alone – and locals fear the crimes are linked.
Overall the value of items stolen tops £10,000.
The Halo hairdressers, on Buckie’s East Carlton Terrace, was broken into overnight last Wednesday, with thieves removing new equipment worth hundreds of pounds.
The salon’s manager, Lynette Farquhar, said: “Whoever it was burst open the window at the front of the salon and put it back afterwards, they definitely knew what they were doing.
“I don’t think this was the only theft these people carried out.”
In a spate of burglaries between 5pm and 8am last Wednesday and Thursday, other firms targeted included Covesea Golf Links at Duffus, Envy Hairdressing on Station Road in Lhanbryde, and the West Beach Café on Stotfield Road, Lossiemouth.
The owners of Covesea Golf Links said the raid was especially cruelly timed – as it fell on the one-year anniversary of the club’s cafe burning to the ground.
Manager Angela Burnett said: “The thieves didn’t take any golfing equipment, just £200 from a money jar and boxes of Mars Bars. But after our cafe went on fire last year, this is something we could have done without.”
On Monday night the crime spree continued when a shop at Forres Golf Club was ransacked and more than £1,000 worth of goods stolen.
At around 1am intruders made off with two golf bags and several clubs made by American manufacturer Ping.
Overnight between Monday and Tuesday two further break-ins were reported to the police at farmhouses outside Keith and Elgin.
Between 4.30pm on Monday and 7.30am on Tuesday a large metal storage shed at Glassgreen Farm outside Elgin was raided.
Thieves removed power tools, equipment and a large silver Ifor Williams trailer.
Then, between 8.30pm on Monday and 10am the following day, a farm outside Keith was targeted.
Tools and equipment worth around £5,000 were lifted from Croftmore Farm, in the Mulben area.
Constable Morag Lawrence is investigating the Keith theft.
She said: “Heavy equipment was stolen, and it is likely that a vehicle was used to remove some of it.
“I would be interested to hear from anyone who may have seen a vehicle being driven in a suspicious manner in the area around the time of the break-in.”
Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious around the scene of any of the crimes is urged to contact police on 101.