Thrill-seeking Arbroath teenagers are putting their lives at risk by leaping between boats in the town’s harbour.
Locals say youths have been clambering aboard moored vessels without the owners’ permission and then jumping from boat to boat.
Police have agreed to step up foot and vehicle patrols in response to a rise in anti-social behaviour in the harbour and marina area.
Officers are working with local schools in an attempt to educate young people about the potential dangers.
Council bosses are also using CCTV to try to tackle the problem.
An Angus Council spokesman said the reports of crime and anti-social behaviour from the harbour authorities were “extremely disappointing.”
“These incidents have been discussed at the harbour committee and the harbour master continues to liaise closely with Police Scotland,” he said.
“We would urge anyone who witnesses such incidents to report them immediately to the police.
“People should be reassured that such incidents are relatively few and far between and the actions of a minority of people will not undermine the safe, open access that people and businesses enjoy at our thriving harbour in Arbroath.”
The response follows a number of incidents in the first half of 2019.
Police are still investigating the theft of several ignition keys belonging to boats in the harbour in January.
In a separate incident, a man was charged in connection with an alleged break in at the Marina Fish and Chip Shop where staff said an RNLI charity collection box had been taken.
A police spokeswoman said colleagues would be focusing on preventing crime around the harbour area.
She said: “There have been some calls that youths have been causing annoyance over the last six months. Police officers will be giving attention to the area of the harbour.
“The theft of the ignition keys for boats in the harbour remains under inquiry.”
The spokeswoman added: “A man was arrested and reported to the procurator fiscal for a break-in to Marina Chip Shop on June 3.”
The harbour committee – representing businesses, the council and police – raised concerns about antisocial behaviour when it published the minutes of its most recent meeting in June.
It flagged the “emerging issue involving teenage youths boarding boats and jumping between them at considerable risk”, as well as the theft of ignition keys.
