The owner of a fast food business hit out yesterday after thieves raided his van for the third time in just 10 days.
Iain Scott, owner of Aqua-rue in Macduff, discovered the latest theft had happened in the early hours of yesterday morning.
About £180 worth of food was stolen from the vehicle, which is parked in the corner of the Macduff Marine Aquarium car park, in the middle of the night.
Mr Scott said: “I’m angry and frustrated. There has been no damage or equipment nicked but our stock is being taken and I have to replace it every time.
“It has happened before but never on such a level – we’ve now had burgers, 2.5kg bags of chicken goujons and cans of juice taken.
“They’re not trashing the place and I’m thankful for that but my son and employee are especially raging about it.”
Mr Scott believes that the criminals would not have struck if the street lights had been on.
He said: “If the security lights had been working then it would have acted as a deterrent and I believe in deterrence rather than a cure.
“If I was a thief I would do it somewhere dark too.
“In the last year there have been many audacious break-ins in the area which suggests to me that whoever is doing this doesn’t care if they get caught.
“I’m putting up signs, setting up more CCTV and barring the vents – if they can’t access the van any more they will hopefully move on.”
The car park where the vehicle is stationed belongs to Aberdeenshire Council.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “The council granted a licence for this vehicle to park on the site, where there is lighting operated by the aquarium in the winter to assist patrons parking their cars. It is not required in the summer.
“This is not security lighting, nor is it intended to be and in fact the van currently parks at a point distant from the aquarium where there is no lighting.
“While this is an unfortunate incident and we have sympathy, it would be wrong to blame the council’s actions.”
Police confirmed two of the offences had been reported to them – the first happened on July 15.
Police constable Jessica Murray said: “Inquiries are on-going and anyone we urge anyone with information or anyone who has seen anything suspicious in the area to contact the Banff Police office.”