A break-in at a mobile burger van has become the latest incident in a long-running crime wave which has blighted Macduff in recent months.
The latest target was situated just yards from the town’s main tourist attraction – its marine aquarium.
Last night, the owner of the takeaway van could not be reached for comment, but Police Scotland said it was aware of the incident.
A spokeswoman said: “It has been reported to police and there is a 24-year-old male charged in connection with it.”
Charities, businesses and a shop supporting the local lifeboat have now been raided by thieves during a series of offences dating back to last November.
Macduff’s RNLI shop and Red Cross shop on Duff Street have been targeted along with Inshore Fishmongers and Scotmid.
And last month, local man, Matthew Watt, captured video footage of a would-be thief trying to break into his home.
The film, which showed a man open a car door and attempt to open the door to the property, was watched hundreds of times after being shared on a social media page.
Residents have repeatedly called for extra police to “walk the beat” in the town.
Yesterday, Macduff councillor Mark Findlater said: “It’s awful. It wasn’t so long ago that the lifeboat station’s shop was broken into.
“Police obviously rely on people coming forward with information. We don’t have enough police in this area – they are stretched – but they are doing the best with what they can.”
Neighbouring Banff was also affected by the spate of break-ins, where one of the thieves tried to force their way into a takeaway premises.
At the time, owner Mandy Chung responded by expressing concern that it was the start of a growing problem.
She added: “You don’t think these things happen in a town like Banff or Macduff – it’s quite scary. I’m now worried it will happen again.”