A Longforgan man has spoken of his distress after his treasured mountain bikes, worth more than £9,000, were stolen.
David Smith, 49, who has lived in the village for more than 20 years, said he was “very angry and disappointed” at the theft.
Mr Smith said: “I am well known in the village I’ve lived here a long time and it’s terrible that something like this would happen.
“They broke in through the shed door itself the lock is still intact. But it would have been quiet as it looks like they removed the nails from the door.”
He added that the theft was particularly upsetting because the hi-tech bikes had been purchased with some of the money from his wife’s pension after she passed away.
He said: “My wife passed away nine years ago we lost her to cancer. We had bought the bikes with some money from her pension and money from the ward she was on.
“My eldest son Leo races in the Scottish Downhill Association, he’s got nothing to use now. We had another bike for training but that was taken.
“My other son had aspirations of racing too, but now there are no bikes. They are both devastated, and we can’t afford to replace them.”
Police are now investigating the burglary, which took place between 10.30pm on Wednesday and 7.30am on Thursday.
Officers are trying to trace a Mazda 626 (registration X485 NSS) that was taken from Buttars Loan Service Station in the early hours of Thursday morning, which they believe may have been involved in the crime.
A Tayside Division spokesman said: “Sometime between 10.30pm on Wednesday October 16 and 7.30am on Thursday October 17, when the crime was discovered, thieves broke into a garden shed and garage at the Longforgan address.
“They stole a yellow Scott Gambler-make downhill mountain bike worth £4,000; a grey KTM downhill mountain bike worth £2,200; and a brown Absolute-make downhill mountain bike worth £800.
“All of the bikes have been heavily customised. Also taken from the address were two red Macbor mini-motos, worth a combined £1,400. A quad bike was also taken, but recovered nearby.
“Three men were seen acting suspiciously at the address at about 2.15am. All three were aged in their early 20s, were about five feet seven to five feet eight inches tall, slim and had short brown hair.
“One of them wore a black jacket and grey hooded top. They were seen getting into a dark-coloured car and driving off along Patterson Street.
“The description of this car is very similar to a Mazda 626 (registration X485 NSS) that was taken from Buttars Loan Service Station in Buttars Loan, Dundee, at about 12.45am on Thursday.
“Police Scotland would appeal to anyone who has any information to contact us immediately on 101, or speak to any officer.
“Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”