Police in Moray are facing a battle to stem the tide of vandalism across the region after a latest incident left several cars damaged.
Officers are appealing for information after a number of cars were targeted at Arnold Clark’s garage forecourt in Edgar Road in Elgin between Thursday and Friday last week.
Constable Jamie Dey, of Elgin Community Policing Team, said: “Vandalism is unacceptable no matter what form it takes.
“It creates unnecessary expense for individuals and organisations.
“We have recently launched Operation Regard, a Moray-wide focus on vandalism and where offences are reported we will carry out appropriate inquiries and where offenders are identified they will be robustly dealt with.”
Last night, Elgin councillor Graham Leadbitter said: “Vandalism of any kind is a mindless crime that can be extremely costly for the individuals and organisations that are victims of it.
“That type of behaviour is clearly totally unacceptable and I am pleased that the police have got a focus on tackling vandalism with Operation Regard.
“I have been a victim of vandalism myself in the past. It takes hours and hours of your time to clear up, try and carry out insurance claims and on many occasions you end of bearing the costs yourself.
“In that occasion, although the vandals were not caught, the police were very helpful, and I know they will be making every effort to track down the culprits in this instance.”
Anyone with information that could assist inquiries should call police on 101, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers annonymously on 0800 555 111