Historical drawings worth £500,000 destroyed after car torched in West Lothian

An investigation has been launched after historical drawings worth £500,000 were destroyed in deliberate car fire.

A silver Ford Transit containing the drawings was stolen from Heron Square in Livingston around 11.30pm on November 19 while it was parked and locked.

The vehicle was discovered a day later stripped of its parts and set alight in the Ratho area.

There were 1700 historical drawings from the Royal Engineers Museum within the vehicle when it was stolen and destroyed.

Enquiries so far have found a man wearing a face covering was seen entering the vehicle and driving Eastbound on the A89 towards Newbridge, Ratho shortly after 11.30pm on the Wednesday.

Constable Teri McEwan said: “We’re conducting extensive enquiries into this incident and officers are working their way through CCTV and visiting nearby properties.

“I am now asking anyone with information, or anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area around the time, to get in touch with us.

“If you have private CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam footage, please also review this and bring anything which may assist the investigation to our attention.”

Those with information are urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference CR/0489211/25.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.