Police are investigating a break-in at a Dundee factory which occurred on the same weekend that travellers illegally set up camp inside the grounds.
Staff at Albacom on George Buckman Drive in the Camperdown Industrial Park were left stunned when they arrived for work on Monday and found caravans, gas bottles and generators blocking the main entrance and a fire exit.
The company, which is a leader in high technologies serving industries such as defence and international communications, say the travellers forced open locked gates and entered the site some time after Friday night.
To make matters worse two storage sheds at the rear of the building have been targeted by vandals over the weekend, with a side panel ripped from one of the units.
Police say they are aware of the complaint and are looking into the matter.
Meanwhile a 24-hour eviction notice was served giving the group, which includes young children, until noon today to leave. But there are signs that the issue will be resolved by the deadline, with traveller Sarah Smith (22) saying: ”God knows where we will go but we will have to move.”
Last Thursday a hand full of caravans pitched up at a neighbouring scrap of land belonging to A Plus Dental Laboratory. Despite being issued with an eviction notice last week they show no signs of leaving.
No one at either of the affected companies was willing to be named for fear of reprisals, but a member of staff at A Plus Dental Laboratory said he felt powerless.
”Two councillors went across there and served them with a 24-hour eviction notice or face legal action,” he continued. ”They just tore up the paper in front of them and were very aggressive.”
The legal stance states that if someone comes on to land without permission the landowner can appeal to the courts to have them removed.
Papers can be served within a day and if the illegal occupants refuse to take notice the sheriff’s officers can move them on.