Police warn car gang are targeting high-value vehicles in rural Perthshire

Motorists in rural Perthshire are being warned to be extra vigilant after the area was targeted by a gang of sophisticated car thieves.

Crooks smashed their way into a house in Auchterarder to steal keys for a high-value vehicle parked in the driveway.

A police spokeswoman said raiders struck at the Western Road property in the early hours of Thursday February 19 and made off with the owner’s red Volvo S60.

The region’s top police officer warned that the incident could be the beginning of a spate of similar offences.

Chief Inspector Mike Whitford said: “This was a specific type of crime carried out by gangs across the Central Belt.

“They drive around looking for high-value cars and then target the house to get the keys.”

He added: “We were targeted early last year in a similar fashion and numerous houses in the Kinross area were broken into.

“We identified the perpetrators and executed a number of search warrants to recover evidence of many of the missing cars.

“It is disappointing to see the start of this crime type again. However, detectives are already busy investigating it, working with colleagues in other divisions.”