CENTRAL SCOTLAND POLICE
THIEVES have stolen railings from a cemetery in Camelon.
Police believe the 120ft long section for cast iron fencing has been stolen for scrap.
They believe it would have been cut into smaller sections and ,due to the weight, removed by vehicle.
The fence was taken sometime between Thursday, October 6 and Saturday, October 8.
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY POLICE
SOMETIME between 7.30pm and 11pm on Wednesday 12 October 2011 a red coloured petrol lawnmower was stolen from the rear of a house in Anderson Street in Kelloholm.
A PENSIONER was attacked by a dog as she walked her pet Pekinese.
The 74-year-old woman was set upon by a “Staffordshire Bull terrier type” at around 9.30pm on Wednesday.
The dog was being walked by a man at Millgreen in Dumfries when it attacked the woman’s pet.
As the lady intervened to try and separate the dogs the Staffordshire bit her on the hand. As a result the lady was taken to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where she was treated for a bite to the hand.
Police want to trace the man who was with the Staffordshire. The only description available is that he was wearing dark clothing and appeared to be getting dragged along by the dog.
POLICE in Dumfries are investigating what is reported as suspicious behaviour of a man who was seen to be loitering around the toilets at the Loreburn Centre in Dumfries around lunch time on Sunday 9 October 2011.
The man is described as being of Chinese origin, 5’ 6” tall, black medium length hair and was wearing light coloured clothing. Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around this, or any other time in or around these toilets.
GRAMPIAN POLICE
THE window of a charity office has been smashed.
The 6’ x 6’ window at the offices of Action for Children in Greystone
Avenue in Kelloholm was damaged sometime overnight Monday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 11.
ABOUT 450 litres of red diesel has been stolen from farm property at Lennies, Creetown sometime between Wednesday, September 28 and Tuesday, October 11.
A cottage at the farm was also broken into however nothing appears to have been taken.
POLICE are investigating an incident that occurred on Ferrier Crescent, Aberdeen.
The male responsible is described as mid 20’s, approx 6 feet 2 inches in height, very skinny build, with short dark hair, sunken cheekbones, a pointed nose and was wearing dark clothing.
POLICE can confirm that the body of a male was discovered at the Findhorn Bridge on Thursday 13 October 2011.
The incident was reported to police by a member of the public shortly after 8:30 am.
While enquiries are at an early stage, the death is currently being treated as unexplained but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
The man is aged in his 40’s and, as is usual in such circumstances, a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.
Andrew Gray, 38, was reported missing from his home in Glasgow on Monday 10 October.
It is believed that Andrew may be in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. He is desribed as being 5’4” in height, medium build with short/receeding black hair.
LOTHIAN AND BORDERS POLICE
POLICE are appealing after an elderly man was assaulted in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh.
The incident happened around 7.15pm on Monday 8th October within the grounds of the Jack Kane Centre.
The 61-year-old had walked from Niddrie Mains Road through the entrance of the Jack Kane Centre along the pedestrian walkway heading towards the Niddrie Marischal Road area.
At this time, a man approached and began kicking and punching the victim to the head before making off towards Niddrie Marischal Road.
The man suffered only minor injuries to his face and did not require hospital treatment.
Officers carried out local enquiries to identify the man and are now urging anyone who witnessed the attack to come forward.
The suspect is described as white, around 40-years-old, 5ft 6ins tall with a thin build, very short or balding hair, possibly wearing glasses with a mousey coloured moustache. He was wearing dark clothing and dark casual shoes.
A police spokesman said: “Fortunately the elderly man was not seriously injured. Nevertheless, we are treating this assault extremely seriously and are eager to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious.
“We are particularly keen to speak with a women who is believed to have been within the grounds of the Jack Kane Centre at the time of this incident and may have witnessed the attack. She is asked to contact police immediately.
“Similarly, anyone who can assist us in identifying the suspect is also asked to get in touch.”
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
POLICE are urgently asking a missing man to contact them as fears increase for his safety.
Mario Martins (45) of Garvald Mains Cottages, Garvald, East Lothian, was last seen at 8.30am on Wednesday morning in a coffee shop in Gifford, East Lothian.
His red Smart car was traced to the Concert Square Car Park, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow earlier today (Thurs). Police believe he may still be in the Glasgow area.
Police and Mr Martin’s family are extremely concerned for his safety and are seeking help from the public to trace him.
He is described as being Male, White, about 5’11″, medium build and wearing a black waterproof jacket, red sweatshirt, blue jeans and black training shoes with a white belt.
Police have stated that this is out of character for Mario, who is a Portuguese national, who has worked and lived in Scotland for a number of years.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0131 311 3131 immediately
NORTHERN CONSTABULARY
A SEX offender has been jailed for six years for abusing children.
Joseph Shaw, 47, pled guilty in September to a number of offences, including the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Bragar, Isle of Lewis, simulating sex with a 9-year-old girl at a house in Inverkeithing, Fife and exposing himself to an eight-year-old girl.
The offences were committed between December 2007 and February 2011.
A spokesman for Northern Constabulary said: “We acknowledge the sentence handed out today to Joseph Shaw at the High Court in Edinburgh.
“This was a case where Joseph Shaw was convicted of the rape of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl and was responsible for several other sexual offences against children between December 2007 and February 2011.
“The extensive investigation into the rape allegations led to the other offences he had committed being detected. This was a joint investigation, carried out with colleagues at Fife Constabulary and assisted by our partners in social work and health.
“We hope today’s sentence provides some comfort to his victims who all displayed an incredible level of bravery and courage throughout our inquiries.”
TAYSIDE POLICE
PENSIONERS have been robbed of £60,000 after falling victim to fraudsters.
The elderly couple, aged 88 and 90, from Perth were contacted by phone last week, and following several conversations in relation to an alleged criminal enquiry at their bank, the couple were duped into attending the bank and then handing over a significant amount of cash to the fraudsters.
The couple, aged 90 and 88, were subsequently contacted the following day and asked to carry out two additional transactions.
A Tayside Police spokesman warned people to be cautious of people claiming to be from banks.
He said: ‘‘People should always be extremely cautious about providing personal and financial information over the phone, particularly in instances where they have been cold-called.
‘‘We receive reports about householders receiving unsolicited calls from people who claim to be from banks and they are asking for the cardholder’s details. To appear genuine, they sometimes ask for passwords to be set up between the caller and the householder.
‘‘While it is common practice to carry out transactions over the phone, we would advise people not to share financial or personal details with a cold caller.
“The callers may be very convincing, but householders must keep in mind the fact that the person at the other end of the line has put time and effort into rehearsing their lines with the hope of catching them out.
‘‘Be suspicious of all such calls and always make every effort to ensure that the person at end of the line is who they claim to be, represent who they claim to represent and are legitimate and reputable.
‘‘If you are unsure, take details of their company so you can check their credentials. You can even take a number with a view to checking out their details and calling the company they say they are from at a later time using a number you have obtained independently.
‘‘Above all else if you have concerns of suspicions hang up and contact the police on 0300 111 2222.’’
