Two men have appeared in court in connection with a £50,000 crime spree which was carried out across the north-east.
Liam Bowyer and Ricky Forrester were arrested earlier this week after cars worth more than £46,000 were taken from across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
And other property, worth almost £4,000, has also been taken from homes and cars around the area.
On Tuesday Forrester, 22 and Bowyer 20, appeared in private at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in connection with the crimes.
Bowyer is alleged to have committed 21 counts of theft as well as assaulting a police officer.
His co-accused Ricky Forrester is accused of six theft charges as well as driving dangerously and without a license.
The pair, both of Aberdeen, made no plea to the charges against them. Bowyer was released on bail while Forrester was remanded in custody.
A third man was also arrested in connection with the crime spree but did not appear in court.
The case against him remains active.
Police revealed last night that a total of 47 crimes had taken place between February 24 and March 10 this year.
These include the theft of cars from Hazlehead in Aberdeen, Beacon Drive in Fraserburgh, Braemar and Tarland.
The vehicles in question had a combined value of £46,500 but have now all been recovered.
Other crimes reported were a number of sneak in thefts on Middleburgh Road in Fraserburgh and in Ellon, Echt, Parkhill and Dyce.
The combined value of the other items stolen is believed to be around £3,650, of which only £1,300 worth of goods has been recovered.
Damage was also caused to the Auchmill Golf Course and petrol was stolen from the BP and Shell garages on King Street in Aberdeen.
Last night Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Walker said people should secure their valuables to prevent them from becoming victims of theft.
He said: “Police are committed to tackling car thefts and thieves – it is at the forefront of our policing strategy and we know it is a priority for the public who it affects.
“I can assure people living in the north-east that we will continue to detect and arrest those who threaten our communities, and it is testament to our officers that so many vehicles are traced and returned to its owners.”
