Police have said they are “keeping an open mind” on a possible link regarding a spate of break-ins to take-away restaurants in both Perth and Dundee.
A gang of thieves stole almost £1,000 in recent days when they raided the Maza restaurant in High Street, Perth, along with the City Buffet restaurant in South Street and the Shanghai takeaway in Hospital Street.
These crimes all took place overnight Sunday/Monday along with an attempted break-in to a flat adjoining the Maza restaurant.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland’s Tayside Division confirmed officers are reviewing CCTV in a bid to track down the thieves and didn’t rule out a possible link to a series of similar break-ins to takeaway businesses in Dundee.
“Inquiries are continuing regarding these break-ins and we are keeping an open mind as to whether they are linked to crimes in Dundee,” she told The Courier.
She also confirmed that £400 was stolen at City Buffet and £500 at Shanghai restaurants in Perth.
These crimes follow a similar spate of break-ins to several premises in Dundee. Hannah’s takeaway in Broughty Ferry was raided last month with £500 being stolen.
And shops in Cleghorn Street, Strathmartine Road, Clepington Road and the High Street in Lochee were all targeted by thieves between Tuesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 3. Two of these raids resulted in thieves stealing money.
And in a separate incident, thieves also recently broke-in to a Greggs bakery in Strathmartine Road shopping centre, Dundee, and made off with a safe containing around £5,000.
Police believed more than one person and a vehicle was involved in this crime.
Anyone with any information that may be useful concerning these crimes should contact Police Scotland, Tayside Division on 101, or any police officer. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.