Angry allotment holders on Dundee’s Law have described vandals who targeted their plots as “total scumbags” after more than 60 garden sheds were damaged.
The vandals broke into their properties at Stirling Park Allotments at Law Road last weekend.
They struck some time overnight on Sunday and Monday, breaking into around 20 sheds and damaging the properties.
It has also emerged 46 separate sheds were also attacked the previous weekend at the nearby Kinnaird Allotments.
Police Scotland have confirmed they are following a “positive line of inquiry”.
And they have not ruled out the possibility the same people might have been responsible for the damage to both allotments.
Leonard Jamieson, 79, president of the Stirling Park Allotments, said: “I went along and my shed had been broken into but nothing was stolen, it was just vandalism.
“There were a couple of bottles of spirits taken from a shed. They were raffle prizes but, apart from that, there were only a few vegetables taken.
“I’m not sure what to think of these people. We had break-ins the previous two weekends as well, five or six sheds were broken into.
“You have to think it’s kids, although it could be people after vegetables. I had some leeks stolen and they were cut off at the right place.
“I just hope one day they have a place like this of their own and then they will appreciate what effect it has on us and how we feel when we keep on getting targeted like this.”
Another allotment holder, who did not want to be named, said he thought the courts should “throw the book at the little rats” who break into other people’s property.
“These people are just total scumbags,” he said. “They don’t respect other people’s property. They just don’t care a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into their allotments. They’re probably looking for stuff to steal and sell to get money for drugs.
“It’s a little oasis for some of us, a place to come and relax after working all week. A lot of people are either retired or unemployed and it’s just great for them to get out of the house and have a blether with a few pals over a cup of tea.
“We shouldn’t have to put up with this. It happens far too often.”
Police said the break-in at Stirling Park allotments took place some time between 12.30pm on Sunday and 12.30pm on Monday where a number of doors on sheds were broken.
The allotment holder said: “The police have told us they saw somebody on CCTV. It looked like a young person and they think they know who it is.
“Hopefully they get them but if it’s somebody young they’ll probably go to the Children’s Panel and get a wee slap on the wrist and told not to do it again.”
If you know who is responsible for the vandalism, contact Police Scotland on 101.