Four people were arrested yesterday after a car crashed on a road following an alleged break-in at a north-east village shop.
The Costcutter grocery store on the Main Street in Newburgh was allegedly broken into in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Police said alcohol and cigarettes were taken from the shop at about 3.40am.
Emergency crews were called out to reports of a car crash involving a grey Honda CR-V on the old A90 road near Balmedie shortly afterwards.
They arrived to find the car damaged at the back of a construction vehicle which was parked on the stretch of road.
The three men and a woman travelling in the car were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment with injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening.
Officers said they were treating the alleged break-in and collision as incidents which were potentially linked.
In Newburgh, the shop was sealed off in the morning while forensic teams carried out investigations at the damaged building.
Village resident George Shearer said he heard an alarm going off on the street in the morning.
The 67-year-old said: “I have been here for 30 years, this is the worst thing I have seen.”
Detective Inspector Stewart Drummond said: “Our inquiries are ongoing into both of these incidents and I would urge anyone who was in the Main Street area of Newburgh or on the old A90 at Balmedie around the time of these incidents to get in touch.
“These two incidents are believed to be linked and four people are currently arrested in connection with the alleged break-in at Costcutter.”
A spokesman for Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 3.56am hours today to attend a road traffic collision in Balmedie.
“We dispatched four ambulances to the scene and transported four patients to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”
Ellon and District councillor Richard Thomson said: “I would urge anyone who has any information about this incident or who might have witnessed what happened to contact the police so that they can assist with ongoing enquiries.”
