Gang hunted after Clydesdale thefts blitz

The spate of incidents began at around 1.30am on Thursday with an attempted break-in at The Crown Inn on Biggar High Street.

The gang had better luck shortly afterwards when they successfully broke into The Ladyacre Garage in Lanark’s Ladyacre Road to steal a quantity of cigarettes.

They then forced their way into Rea’s Nisa Supermarket in Lanark’s Westport - opposite Lanark Police Station - and again escaped with a haul of cigarettes. They then attempted to break into the Westportfilling station and shop 
next door but were unsuccessful.

They then drove down the Clyde Valley where they successfully targeted Crossford Post Office, escaping with a quantity of cigarettes and a
small amount of cash.

It is understood all these incidents occurred within around one and a half hours of each other.

The same gang is suspected to be responsible for a second mini-crimewave in the area late on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

This time their starting point was the convenience store at Carnwath West End where they failed to enter the premises.

They then struck at their first non-commercial premises, a private house in Carluke’s Sandy Road but again failed to enter; instead, they stole a van from a business in Carluke’s Airdrie Road, recovered later in Law where they stole another vehicile, later found abandoned in Wishaw.

It is understood the gang then conducted more crimes in the Wishaw and Larkhall areas that same night.

Police Scotland’s Inspector Scott Jones, based at Lanark, said that police had viewed CCTV footage and studied witness statements and were“following a positive course of inquiry”.

He said that a special investigation team was looking into the incidents and added that he anticipated “a successful result to the inquiries.”

Any members of the public with any information that might help with the investigation are asked to call Police Scotland on the 101 
number.