Six men have been arrested in connection with a terrifying robbery in a tiny village in west Fife earlier this year.
An 80-year-old woman was assaulted in her home in Gowkhall shortly after midnight on Friday February 22, after a group of men allegedly forced entry.
A quantity of jewellery was taken in the raid.
A major investigation was launched, which saw detectives from Fife’s Criminal Investigations Department, working with colleagues across Scotland, as well as with Merseyside Police.
As a result of enforcement action carried out on Thursday, five men aged 24, 28, 32, 37 and 50 were arrested in the Garston area of Liverpool.
A sixth man, aged 22, was arrested in the Oxfordshire area and inquiries are ongoing.
Five men have now been charged in connection with the incident and are due to appear at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Monday.
Detective Sergeant Stewart Andrew from Fife’s Criminal Investigations Department said: “This was an extremely frightening ordeal for the victim and since this incident we have been working hard conducting inquiries in the Fife area and further afield in the north west of England.
“As a result of joint enforcement work with colleagues and partners, five men are due to appear in court in connection with the incident and our inquiries continue.
“I would like to thank the public for their support during this investigation, along with the officers involved from Police Scotland and Merseyside and Thames Valley Forces, which has resulted in these arrests.”
