Towns across Aberdeenshire are still being targeted by criminals from the Granite City, police chiefs have said.
Officers in the Kincardine and Mearns area have reported an increase in thefts, housebreakings and car crime since April, councillors heard yesterday.
Chief Inspector Richard Craig, area commander for Aberdeenshire South, said towns such as Stonehaven and Portlethen continue to be singled out by “individuals from outwith the area”.
The number cars being either stolen or broken into increased from 25 to 29 between April and September, compared with figures from the same period in 2014.
In the Stonehaven and Lower Deeside region there was a rise from seven to 16 motor vehicle crime cases, in the North Kincardine area the figures went from eight to 11, but in the Mearns region such crimes dropped from 10 to two.
Common theft has arisen in Stonehaven and Lower Deeside from 13 to 27 incidents, crimes of dishonesty from 44 to 72, and housebreakings from five to 10; although vandalism cases have dropped from 54 to 38.
In North Kincardine housebreakings have arisen from seven to 12, common theft from 22 to 14 and crimes of dishonesty from 57 to 64. However there have been no serious assaults.
In the Mearns, there was a drop in break-ins, thefts and crimes of dishonesty.
On the roads, the number of fatalities has dropped across Aberdeenshire as a whole from 113 to 90.
Ch Insp Craig said: “Any theft or theft of motor vehicle is serious. I’d like to give the committee that reassurance that the prevention element is something we are actually working on.
“Much of our crimes of dishonesty in Stonehaven and Deeside is attributed to people outwith our own area.
“The dishonesty aspect in general, particularly in relation to housebreakings and violent crimes are from outwith our area, from Aberdeen.
“We are carrying out investigation and detection work with colleagues from Aberdeen.”
Local councillor Alistair Bews said: “The North Kincardine figures are particularly pleasing, all I can say is well done and keep up the good work.”