Detectives are appealing for information following break-ins at two Co-op stores in Badenoch, which took place last Wednesday and Thursday (2nd and 3rd July), followed by a third break-in at Dufftown Co-op in Moray on 4 July.
The first incident happened on Main Street in Newtonmore at around 2.45am on Wednesday, 2 July. Enquiries so far have established three men were seen leaving the area in a white Ford Transit van, which headed in the direction of nearby Kingussie. The van was later found unoccupied near Aberlour.
One of the suspects is described as wearing a dark coloured jumper, black North Face jacket, a white balaclava, black trousers, and grey trainers. There are no descriptions available for the other two suspects.
The second break-in took place three miles away at the Co-op on Kingussie High Street at around 11.30pm on Thursday, 3 July.
Extensive enquiries are ongoing and it has been established that three men in balaclavas and dark clothing were seen in the area, before leaving on foot northwards up the High Street.
Referring to the Kingussie break-in, Detective Inspector Andy Bilton said: “We are keeping an open mind regarding any links to similar break-ins reported in recent days.
“We’d like to thank members of the community for their assistance so far and would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact us. We’re also keen to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area that may assist our investigation.”
A third break-in took place at a Co-op on Fife Street in Dufftown, Moray, at around 1.10 on Friday, 4 July.
Detective Inspector Gavin Fleming said that enquiries were at an early stage. Officers are keeping an open mind as to any links with a break-in at Kingussie, but there is not believed to be any link to the Newtonmore incident.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident 0323 of 2 July in respect of the Newtonmore break-in;
3962 of 3 July regarding the Kingussie incident; and 0156 of 4 July in respect of the Dufftown break-in.
