Police are appealing for information following a theft from a shed at a rural property near Fortrie, Peterhead.  Between 6.30 pm on Monday 25th March 2024 and 10.00 am on Tuesday 26th March 2024 a domestic shed was broken into at a rural property.  A Fairfax horse jumping saddle was stolen along with grey bicycle, yellow bicycle, green bicycle & light blue bicycle and a child's bicycle. 

North East Division Crime Reduction Officer, PC Russell said ‘We advise everyone to look at their buildings through the eyes of a thief.  Start by looking at the grounds of their property and think about lighting and fencing. Are there any loose objects lying about which could be used by the thieves to help force entry to the premises? CCTV is a useful tool but it must be remembered that CCTV on its own is not a deterrent to criminality and should always be combined with appropriate physical security.

Securing your shed and protecting your property from theft requires a proactive approach. Ensure all external doors are of solid construction with suitable locks or a closed shackle padlock, ensuring the shed's entry points are well-protected. Reinforce the windows with protective grills or at least restrict the view in using covers on windows.  Ensure property is locked away at night or when not in use, not only to prevent them being stolen, but to prevent them being utilised to gain further access or potentially cause damage. Consider motion-activated lights to illuminate the area when someone approaches, discouraging would-be thieves.

Maintain your shed's surroundings by trimming overgrown foliage and ensuring clear visibility.  Mark your property with unique identifiers, making it harder for thieves to sell stolen items.'

Comprehensive crime prevention advice can be obtained from your local policing team by telephoning 101 or contacting your local Crime Prevention Officer by emailing

NorthEastCrimeReduction@Scotland.police.uk.

Anyone with information can contact the Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 1177 of 26/03/2024.

This messaging system is not for reporting crime as responses are not monitored 24/7.  If you have time-critical information regarding the content of the above message, or if you wish to report any other non-urgent matter, please call 101.  In an emergency, call 999.

Police Scotland's North East Division covers rural and urban areas in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.  The division has five territorial command areas which have their own dedicated Area Commander, who is responsible for the daily policing function.  Each command area is served by a number of community policing teams whose activities are built around the needs of the local community.  These teams respond to local calls and look for long term solutions to key issues.  They are assisted by the division's Crime Reduction Unit who deliver against Force and local priorities in a number of areas, including physical and social crime prevention, supporting and enhancing community engagement and creating and sustaining strong and effective partnership working.