More rural Angus businesses have been hit by crime as scrap metal thieves “ransack the countryside at will”.
A business on the outskirts of Brechin has been the latest to succumb to “those of a certain nature”, as almost £5,000 worth of battery packs were stolen from Eastmill Caravan Park.
A storage compound at Trinity Garden Centre was also targeted over the weekend, during a period proving a boom time for metal thieves.
Brechin Business Association secretary Douglas Murray, whose family owns the firms, criticised “opportunists” who also added criminal damage to their list of crimes.
He said: “We are currently reviewing CCTV images for the sites but the recent wintry weather does not appear to persuade those of a certain nature to stay at home, instead preferring to ransack the countryside at will.
“As a member of the local Brechin Business Association, the owner of both sites has asked that the association make contact with others to raise awareness of the issue.”
Batteries were stolen from up to 25 private touring caravans as thieves forced open their compartment doors, making off with leisure pack batteries each costing £100 to replace on average.
The packs would yield “well over £5,000 for a small salvage value”, with their replacement value being far in excess of that. Replacement doors will also be necessary in many cases. The batteries are not suitable for use in cars and some are protectively marked.
Mr Murray added: “Staff of the garden centre are contacting all the private owners to advise them of their losses, as well as asking if they have such tags and thus, be easily traced.”
Police are still hunting the perpetrators. Tayside Police confirmed no arrests have been made during their investigation and local officer Billy Rattray said: “Inquiries are still continuing into the theft and we would ask that any suspicious activity be reported to Tayside Police on 0300 1112222.”
Local scrap merchants have agreed to be on the lookout for this type of battery, as well as passing the same message to others in the trade.
A police spokeswoman said: “Clearly, there is a black market for all kinds of metal and the police engage with those in the scrap metal business to try and seek their assistance in tackling this issue.
“The use of Smartwater can be used to uniquely mark high-value items and machinery. This assists in deterring thieves and identifying stolen property.”
Mr Murray believes this appears to be a new type of theft, particularly in Angus, and the message for anyone with modern touring caravans is to ensure batteries are removed over the winter months when not being used.
His plea for awareness mirrors that of Craichie Mill business owner Graeme Fleming, whose own premises GLF Forklift and Handling Services have been victimised by repeat offenders.
Mr Fleming’s business was robbed of up to £20,000 of metal in November and the thieves even tried to return the next day. His losses over the last several months, along with security costs, run into tens of thousands. After making a fortress of his business, he said he can do no more to protect it.
Mr Murray echoed his appeal for a policing initiative to protect rural businesses, adding: “We can endorse Mr Fleming’s call for more activity in deterring such thieves.”
The caravan thefts follow the vandalism of six static units at a farm in Cliffburn Road, Arbroath. A number of windows and doors of the caravans were broken between Monday December 31 and Sunday January 6.