Thousands of pounds have been stolen from gaming machines at an Angus veterans’ club during a break-in causing £10,000 worth of damage.
Thieves broke into the Montrose branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) between Friday night and Saturday morning, taking £3,500 from the puggies and £240 from the till.
Police are now appealing for information from the public to help capture the criminals – who disarmed the CCTV and alarm systems at the Wellington Street club.
Val Cooper, treasurer and bar convenor at RBLS Montrose, says the thieves targeted the downstairs bar area after smashing a back window to gain access.
Val said: “The thieves have caused considerable damage.
“They smashed the two gaming machines to pieces – there was broken glass everywhere.
“All the money they took was change – they have at least £3,500 worth of pound coins and they managed to get £240 from the tills.”
The criminals also smashed five doors during the break-in.
Val, whose colleague discovered the crime scene at around 10.30am on Saturday morning, estimates at least £10,000 worth of damage has been done.
Thankfully, she says, the thieves failed to access the safe.
‘Devastating’ break-in at Montrose British Legion
Val added: “Club members are absolutely devastated.
“We spent Covid re-decorating and refurbishing the club.
“We worked hard to make it welcoming and bright, so for something like this to happen it’s devastating.
“If anybody out there has any information that would help we would be extremely grateful.”
However, the 69-year-old says she has been “humbled” by the community’s support, with members of the public dropping off gifts and offering to help clean up, as well as generous donations from local businesses.
Val says the club is already back open, with the lounge acting as make-shift bar while police investigations are carried out.
She added: “People depend on us and we are not going to let them down.
“We are not going to let this minority group, who have no respect for what our services do, to beat us.
“It is soul destroying but our members are strong and loyal.”
Police appeal for information
A statement from Police Scotland said: “Police are appealing for information following a break-in to a premises in Montrose.
“Entry was gained to a premises on Wellington Street, Montrose, between 11.45pm on Friday and 10.40am on Saturday.
“A number of items were damaged and a four-figure sum of cash was taken.
“Inquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with any information which could assist, or anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time to contact them.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 1269 of August 20.”
Conversation