Two men arrested and charged in connection with car thefts

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a number of keyless car thefts in Wishaw, Uddingston, Stirling, Bathgate and Edinburgh.

The incidents happened between Friday, 1 November and Thursday, 28 November, when six cars were reported stolen in different locations.

Officers carried out enquiries and on Friday, 6 December, a 35-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with these thefts. He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Thursday, 19 December.

On Saturday, 21 December, 2024, a 36-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with two of the thefts and driving whilst disqualified. He is expected to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday, 23 December.

Sergeant Steven Brown said: “We urge all vehicle owners to be aware and take extra precautions to combat this type of criminal activity including not keeping keys or fobs near doors or windows.

“Buying a secure signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday bag or RFID signal blocker that can block the transmission of the signal from the key, can also help keep your vehicle secure.

“Steering locks can also be effective, while vehicle trackers and tracking devices are also a form of additional security and can assist police in recovering stolen vehicles quickly.

“Anyone with information about these thefts should contact officers via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Further information on keeping your vehicle safe can be found here: 

https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/relay-theft

Man faces court following crime spree across Lothians and Borders

A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged following an extensive investigation into a series of housebreakings and thefts across the Lothians and Borders.

The incidents took place in Tranent, Prestonpans, Galashiels, Selkirk, Livingston, Gorebridge and Stow, between Friday, 6 September and Thursday, 10 October, 2024.

The man has been charged in connection with a number of offences, including 13 housebreakings, four attempted housebreakings and five vehicle thefts.

He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Tuesday, 22 October, 2024. Further enquiries remain ongoing.

Detective Inspector Debbie Duncan said: “Crimes of this nature have a serious impact on the victims, causing them to question the safety and security of their own homes, and I would like to commend the work of the officers investigating this crime series.

“I would also like to thank the various local communities for their assistance with our enquiries to date and reassure the public that any reports of criminality will be investigated thoroughly by Police Scotland.”

Three youths arrested following vehicle thefts in North Edinburgh

Police have arrested three teenagers in connection with the theft of two vehicles and road traffic offences in the north of the city. Continue reading Three youths arrested following vehicle thefts in North Edinburgh