POLICE REPORT
Central Scotland Police
There when you need us
New working partner By the time the paper comes out I will have a new working partner, PC Iona Frickleton, who is based in Killin. Iona has a keen interest in both road traffic matters and drugs so we will be targeting these areas to ensure that you can be safe in your own community. Police car vandalised Unfortunately I find myself once again having to report that the police car based at Lochearnhead has been targeted and vandalised. The incident took place during the early hours of Monday 7 March when the car was parked at the rear of the police office. Paint had been smeared over windows and bodywork and a number of items were glued onto the bonnet. As a result the car could not be used for the next two days. Ignoring the costs of having the car uplifted by a garage to be cleaned and repaired what is more important is the fact that it could not be used in the event of an emergency. What would happen if: 1. there was a serious road accident 2. there was a house break in 3. a child had gone missing 4. somebody needed urgent medical attention and I was the nearest emergency service. These incidents occur on a regular basis and require an immediate police response. Not only do I rely on the car, so do my colleagues but perhaps more importantly so do YOU, the public. How do we know some more significant damage has not been caused to it which would make it dangerous to use. With this in mind the car had to go into the garage to undergo a full safety check before anybody could use it, again a cost we should not have to contemplate. Those who make decisions on financial evidence alone may well ask the following questions:
1. how much did the repairs cost the police budget? 2. what are the financial implications on the local policing if a vehicle is off the road? 3. can we afford to risk the car being damaged again? 4. does it make financial sense to have an officer based in Lochearnhead if the police property is at risk of damage? I would like to reassure everyone that I will make every effort to identify the culprit. Given the time, date and location of the car I strongly believe that the person responsible lives locally. Remember, if I am prepared to go to Yorkshire to track down a thief then knocking on doors here is not going to be difficult. Now for the good news. Updates to recent crimes in the area Recently I reported the theft of BT Cable from Strathyre. I am delighted to say that after extensive enquiries in both Scotland and England we detained a suspect in Yorkshire, who eventually made a full admission to the theft. At the beginning of September the Clachan Cottage Hotel in Lochearnhead was broken into during the night and along with cash and alcohol four charity tins were stolen. Thanks to the CCTV a positive identification of the male responsible was made. Fingerprint and DNA samples taken at the time also confirmed his identity. He was traced to the south coast of England where he was wanted for similar crimes and was due to appear at Stirling Sheriff Court but faced with a considerable amount of evidence he pled guilty prior to going to trial. At the start of June last year I reported the confiscation of an air rifle from a 25 year old male from Kirkbridge. He recently attended Stirling Sheriff Court where he pled guilty as charged. He was fined ÂŁ200 and the air rifle has been kept so it can be destroyed. First chain saw of the season The fishing season was only open one day before I caught a male from Alloa.
He was stealing logs. A quick search of the area also revealed a chainsaw. He was issued with a fixed penalty for vandalism and I confiscated the saw. Help needed to trace car and driver We have had a number of complaints regarding the speed of a vehicle travelling between Killin and Callander. The car is described as a relatively new hatch back, similar to a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra and is dark in colour. One report came from a driver from Derbyshire who was forced to brake suddenly because the driver of the suspect car had carried out such a dangerous overtake it nearly caused a head-on smash. Whilst off duty and travelling south along the side of Loch Lubnaig a car fitting the description went past me so fast I was unable to see its registration as the driver drove straight across all the bends. On another occasion when PC Frickleton was off duty she was almost blinded by a driver as he tailgated her car through Glen Ogle. Indications are that the driver is a male aged around 20 years who travels along the road most nights but in particular Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 7.00 and 9.00pm. Please help the police with ongoing enquiries if you have any information. PC Andrew Ward 01786 456 000 www.centralscotland.police.co.uk
Do you need a new home in Lochearnhead, Strathyre, Killin or Callander? If so,
Rural Stirling Housing Association may be able to help
The Association’s aim is to support rural communities by providing affordable good quality homes for people in housing need. We currently have 450 rented homes and around 30 of these become available for re-let each year. We also build some new homes each year. For more details and a housing application form contact us at: Rural Stirling Housing Association Stirling Road, Doune FK16 6AA Telephone 01786 841101 Email enquiries@rsha.demon.co.uk www.rsha.org.uk Registered as a Scottish Charity No. SCO37849 Please note that we encourage all applicants to also apply to Stirling Council’s housing list (Tel 0845 277 7000) Being on both lists is the best way to maximise your chances of being re-housed.
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