An alleged housebreaker has been charged with carrying out a series of raids from commercial premises in Moray.
Kevin Ritchie, 49, has been accused of three counts of theft by housebreaking which took place across Elgin in recent months.
The police revealed yesterday that officers had uncovered a “substantial” amount of stolen property, which led to the man being arrested and reported to the procurator fiscal.
Investigators probing a spate of break-ins believe the items recovered relate to thefts from four premises in Elgin.
Some of the goods are thought to have been taken from the Picture Framer store on North Street, which was raided in February when an intruder drilled holes through a cellar ceiling and climbed into the shop.
Some of the seized items are believed to belong to the Horizons community resource centre and the Torridon pre-school centre, attached to Bishopmill Primary School.
And other goods are thought to have been taken from the Step Forward project at the Pinefield Industrial Estate, which offers woodwork training for adults recovering from mental health problems.
Ritchie, described as being of no fixed abode in court papers, made no plea or declaration when he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
He has been remanded in custody, and is expected to return to the dock next Tuesday to confirm a plea.