Police investigate possible link between break-in and Perthshire fire farm

Police are hunting vandals who targeted a Perthshire farm steading shortly before it was destroyed in a massive blaze.

Fire crews battled through the night to combat the inferno at Pittendynie Farm, Moneydie, earlier this week.

The blaze, which spread through a steel framed barn, wiped out hundreds of straw bales and left a JCB digger extensively damaged.

Police said inquiries into the incident continue, but added that it appeared the blaze was the result of an electrical fault and had not been started deliberately.

However, a spokeswoman for the force added that the building and other nearby properties had been broken into some time before the fire was reported on Tuesday night.

She said it was unclear when the break-in took place, but said that some property at the farm had been damaged, with some items missing and other equipment moved around.

“We would like to hear from anyone who has any information about the break-in,” she said. “The joint investigation between the police and fire service is still ongoing and we can’t confirm whether the two incidents are linked.”

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Courier.