A north-east safety group has warned members of the public to be extra vigilant to avoid falling victim to crime.
The advice came after a 26-year-old man was charged in relation to three robberies in Peterhead and reports of would-be thieves trying to open house doors in the Westshore Gardens area of Fraserburgh in the past week.
Fraserburgh Community Safety Group has now urged members of the public to hide their valuables and ensure that their properties are secure.
Brian Topping, the group’s chairman, added: “During the last month, there have been quite a lot of attempted break-ins, not just in Fraserburgh, but in the surrounding area as well.
“Whether you are a business owner or a homeowner, you’ve got to be extra vigilant these days – doors have to be locked and valuable items definitely should not be left in your car in plain sight.
“Keys, in particular, should not be left lying around.”
Inspector George Cordiner, of the Buchan Community Policing Team, had previously urged members of the public to come forward with any leads that could help track down those responsible.
And Mr Topping has echoed the inspector’s call, stating: “It can be very upsetting for anyone affected by a break-in or robbery to know someone has been in their house or car without their knowledge.”
These incidents have plagued the north-east in recent months. In one week, the problem became so bad in Banff and Macduff that a community council wrote to its MSP, Stewart Stevenson, to ask for more police officers on the beat.
At the time, Mr Stevenson praised officers for their work in responding to the crimes.
He added: “I shall continue to monitor this issue over the coming months.”
