POLICE hunting a gang who have carried out a string of cash machine raids across the north-east have arrested a man from Liverpool. The 30-year-old has been charged in connection with three attempted ATM heists, plus two high-value thefts from luxury golf stores.
He is due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday.
The accused has been charged with the attempted theft of cash machines in Stonehaven, Inverurie and Ellon.
It is also alleged that he stole two cars, a high-performance Audi S3 and an Audi A4.
Police confirmed earlier this week that a stolen white S3 had been recovered in connection with two of the attempted cashpoint raids.
The car was found abandoned in a wooded area at Tanglandford farm near Methlick in Aberdeenshire earlier this week.
The turbocharged quattro model, which was fitted with the false registration plate YP59 SOJ, was reported stolen from DW Sports Fitness in Aberdeen on October 15.
The man will also face charges that he was linked to the theft at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre at Banchory-Devenick last Saturday and another at Murcar Golf Club in Aberdeen on October 17.
Police estimated at the time that kit worth around £30,000 was taken from the Paul Lawrie store.
Detective Inspector Graeme Mackie, who led the inquiry, said: “This investigation highlights the great work by the team involved, and we wish to thank members of the public for coming forward with information which has ultimately allowed us to get to this stage quickly.
“It also demonstrates how communities across the north-east are willing and able to work with us in identifying those involved in organised criminality, whilst highlighting the resources available to us under Police Scotland to tackle organised crime groups who believe that they can operate undetected within the north of Scotland.
“Although a good bit of work has already been done, we are currently following positive lines of inquiry to identify others suspected of being involved in the ATM crimes across the north-east.
“We would still like to appeal to the public to come forward if they have any information which they believe may be of assistance to us.”
Inquiries are still open into thefts and attempted thefts of ATMs at Inverurie, Oldmeldrum, New Deer and Bieldside between September 15-19.