Rare spate of Orkney break-ins likely to be linked, say police

Five break-ins in Kirkwall in Orkney are being treated as linked, says Police Scotland.

A jewellery shop, distillery, primary school, garden centre and council offices were hit in a rare crime spree in the islands.

The incidents happened between 15:00 on Monday and 09:00 on Tuesday during yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice.

Michael Gardens, managing director of Ortak Jewellery, said his business was able to recover some items the thief had dropped in the snow.

Several items were taken from Ortak's premises in Hatston, and a tip jar was stolen from Wellpark Garden Centre.

Highland Park Distillery, Papdale Primary School and Orkney Islands Council offices were also broken into but nothing has been reported stolen.

Mr Gardens said he knew something was wrong when he arrived at work on Tuesday and discovered an open window.

He spotted a set of footprints in the snow which he believes belong to the culprit.

"You could basically follow them wherever they'd been that day," he said.

"It started in the top car park and just went down systematically through all the windows, and then carried on after this part of the building, but luckily nobody else was affected by it."

Mr Gardens said it was likely to have been an opportunistic theft.

"The amount of stuff that was dropped and high value items that we've recovered from outside in the snow - the way that they've come in and out of the building - would definitely lead me to believe that it wasn't that well planned," he said.

Sgt Alex Campbell has appealed to locals to review any doorbell camera footage, dashcams and private CCTV footage.

He said: "Anything small that you notice, anyone hanging about, that would be brilliant - just let us know here at Kirkwall Police Station."

The officer has advised people to lock their doors, close windows and to keep an eye out for each other.

"There will be local officers or more patrols being carried out within Kirkwall," he said.

"If you've got any concerns, please feel free to give them a wave, flag them down and speak to them - even just anything small. They'll be there to help."