Police are appealing for information following a series of thefts in East and West Lothian.
Between Saturday 16, November, and Sunday 17 November three separate thefts were reported in the Bathgate, Broxburn and Haddington areas.
These include an incident where a farm in Dechmont, Broxburn, was broken into around 10am on Saturday, 16 November. A silver SUV was seen at the property before leaving with a trailer attached and a red quad bike within the trailer. The quad bike has since been recovered.
A silver Mitsubishi Pajero SUV (reg plate Y425 BGA) was then seen with a trailer at a farm in the Bathgate area around 2pm on the Saturday, where a collie puppy was stolen.
A farm machinery supplier in Letham, Haddington, was targeted around 11.30am on Sunday, 17 November. Four men were seen gaining entry to the premises with the same SUV that was used in the theft of the puppy in Bathgate. On this occasion a trailer was attached to the vehicle and was loaded with a Gator utility vehicle before being driven away.
Officers have managed to obtain descriptions of three of the four suspects who gained entry to premises in Letham, Haddington. They are described as follows:
1) Male, white, in his early 20s with dark hair
2) Male, white, in his early 20s to 30s, medium build. He was wearing a black woolly hat with a white stripe around it, a dark green puffer jacket, light denim jeans and light brown rigger boots
3) Male, white, in his 30s, medium build, balding with short hair on the sides, with slight stubble. He was wearing a light grey jacket with dark grey sleeves, a red zip and a white logo on the left of the chest. He was also wearing muddy, light coloured jeans and muddy shoes
Local Constable Russell Taylor said: “Although we are still trying to establish the vehicle used in the first incident was the same SUV used in the second and third, we do believe that all of these incidents are linked.
“Our investigations into all of these incidents are ongoing and we are following a positive line of enquiry, however we would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in these areas at the time or saw this particular silver Mitsubishi Pajero SUV (reg plate Y425 BGA) driving around to get in touch as soon as possible.
“I would also be interested in speaking to anyone who was driving in any of these areas on the Saturday or Sunday and may have dash-cam footage which could assist our investigation.
“If you have been approached by anyone in the area trying to sell you farming equipment, please also get in touch.”
Anyone with information can contact Musselburgh Police Station on 101, quoting reference number 1908 of 16 November. Alternatively, you can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
