Hunt for thieves who stole life raft and falsely set off flares in Buckie Harbour

A search has been launched to trace thieves who stole a life raft and deliberately set off flares in Moray.

Flares are usually used to communicate that a person or vessel is in distress.

However, an incident in the early hours of Monday saw two thieves steal a life raft and set off flares deliberately.

At round 12.30am, emergency services responded to reports of flares being set off at Buckie harbour, with police, coastguard and the local lifeboat attending.

A full search of the area was carried out with no trace of anyone.

Later, on Monday afternoon, police received a report that a shipyard on Commercial Street had been broken into the previous evening.

Two male youths broke in at around 8.45pm on Sunday evening, inflated a life raft and stole flares from survival kits.

Constable Christopher MacKinnon said: “This type of behaviour is completely irresponsible. Our investigation is continuing to identify and trace those involved as soon as possible.

“We are treating these two incidents as linked and I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of the harbour on Sunday night into Monday morning, or who has any information that may assist our enquiry, to contact us.

“I would also ask anyone in the local area who has personal footage or dash-cam that could help us to please contact us as soon as possible.”

Information should be passed to Police Scotland at 101 quoting reference number 0098 of August 21.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.