Charity shop robbery sparks crime warning in Banff
Two people have been charged and police are investigating more alleged thefts
Last updated 13th Feb 2017
Business owners in Banff have been to be on the lookout after a number of alleged thefts in the area.
An investigation has been launched after Daniel's Place at Low Street was broken into on Sunday afternoon with thousands of pounds taken.
A 34-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were charged last week in connection with the alleged thefts of charity boxes in the Duncan Street and Low Street areas earlier this month.
Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact Police.
Local Inspector Megan Heathershaw said: "I would urge anyone with information to contact Police as soon as possible, in particular if you were in the area around the time in question and saw anything suspicious. A four-figure sum of cash was taken which is a significant amount of money intended for good causes.
"By their very nature charity shops rely on the generosity of local people to benefit the community, so for funds to be stolen from those in need is shameful.
"I would urge charity owners and local businesses which have charity boxes on display to remain vigilant and take every precaution possible to ensure your properties are secure from opportunistic thieves. I would urge you not to leave boxes on display and refrain from leaving large sums of money on site unattended.
"It goes without saying that charities and businesses should be able to operate without the fear of being targeted. However I can assure the community that local officers are using every resource available to identify the person or persons responsible, with directed patrols in place during the day and night to deter any further incidents.
"Anyone with information should contact Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you would prefer to remain anonymous."