Police are hunting Christmas tree thieves who uprooted an endangered spruce from a Perth forest.
Raiders forced their way into Deuchny Wood, at Kinnoull Hill on the edge of city, and made off with an almost extinct species of Serbian spruce from its protective cage.
They also tried to steal two other trees, which were found partially uprooted.
Native to forests of Bosnia-Herzegovina and western Serbia, the trees look similar to the Norwegian spruce — a popular type of Christmas tree.
Police are working with Forest and Land Scotland (FLS) to identify the criminals.
The Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) operates the conservation area alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and FLS.
About 29 Serbian spruce saplings were planted at the wood around six years ago as part of a conservation project.
Three years ago, five Serbian spruces were stolen from the Kinnoull Hill site. They were believed to have been used or sold on as Christmas trees.
PKCT has now upped security at the forest to protect the remaining trees.
Doug Flint, manager of the Perthshire Big Tree Country Conifer Conservation Programme said: “It’s a frustrating loss, especially given the effort that people have made to try and secure the future of this particular endangered species.
“We have now taken additional measures to protect the remaining samples.”
He added: “The thefts have striking similarities and suggest that someone has intended to replant the trees and sell them on.
“If anyone has noticed an unusual tree being planted – maybe as part of some garden redesign or renovation work, we would urge them to pass on any information either to us or the police.”
The thieves struck sometime between November 29 and December 5.
They forced open a gateway barrier and drove through the woods, using a network of paths.
Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen any unmarked vehicles at the site in the days leading up to the theft. The number to call with information is 101.
Trees aren’t the only festive favourites to have gone missing in Perth in recent years. In 2016, a baby Jesus doll and a lamb were stolen from a nativity scene outside St John’s Kirk.
The items were later returned undamaged and a 17-year-old girl and two boys, aged 18 and 19, were given a police warning.
It was the second year the baby Jesus had gone walkabout and a perspex screen was installed to protect the scene from any further disturbance.
