A child has been left heartbroken after the money he was saving for a dream trip to Disneyland Paris was stolen during a break-in.
The six-year-old boy’s mother, Lynne Watters, described the thief who stole her son Kyle’s piggy bank as the “lowest of the low”.
The criminal was captured on CCTV climbing in and out of the remote farm cottage where they stay near Upper Largo. In all, a three-figure sum was stolen from the property.
As police investigated Friday afternoon’s incident and examined CCTV images, single parent Lynne Watters told The Courier the tractor-shaped ceramic bank was being used by her six-year-old son Kyle to save up for a trip to Disneyland Paris.
The 27-year-old child care worker, who has lived in the cottage for 18 months, said: “When I came back from work I noticed a plant had been knocked over at the kitchen window. At first I didn’t notice anything else had been taken.
“Then I realised the piggy bank had gone. Kyle has been putting all his pound coins in there.”
Lynne said the thief entered via the kitchen window and left via the living room window. Having seen the CCTV, she believes the perpetrator is a man who came to her door looking for work.
She added: “Thankfully the house was empty at the time. Kyle was at his granny’s in Leven. But it’s a horrendous feeling, thinking that someone has been in the house.
“It’s the lowest of the low to steal from a child. Kyle is really upset at what happened and he is a bit worried about burglars coming back to the house.”
The owner of the farm shamed the alleged thief by posting his image on Facebook, saying: “Caught on camera all over the farm seen going in and out the cottage window coming out with piggy bank belonging to Kyle.
“Only had the cameras a few weeks but they did a good job here.”
The image was shared by hundreds on Facebook, with several describing the suspect as a “scumbag”.
One woman even published the photo and name of a man she said was “clear as day” responsible.
A number of rural break-ins have been reported in the area recently.
A police spokesman said: “Police in Fife received a report of a housebreaking at a farm in Upper Largo that occurred around 2.30pm on Friday July 3.
“A three-figure sum of cash was stolen. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”