Two men will appear at Elgin Sheriff Court today after a robbery in a quiet Moray neighbourhood.
The men, aged 25 and 29, are expected to appear in private in relation to an incident at Christie Place in Elgin that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.
At around 2am, a sum of cash was stolen from a house on the street in the Bishopmill area.
The 46-year-old victim is believed to be a local taxi driver.
The thieves are said to have struck whilst he was away on shift, and he was forced to race back home after family members alerted him to an ongoing incident.
Although left shaken, the homeowner escaped without injury, and the stolen money was later recovered,
A nearby neighbour said: “It’s hellish. I will be locking my door from now on.
“It’s totally out of character, though, because nobody ever bothers you here.”
A police spokesman said: “A silver Subaru motor car was involved in this incident, and it is believed that the same vehicle may have also been involved in an unrelated incident earlier in the evening.
“We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen a silver Subaru acting suspiciously either in Christie Place, Elgin, at around 2.00am or on the A96 between Forres and Keith at around 1.00am to come forward with any information.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Last night, Elgin City North councillor Patsy Gowans warned residents to remain alert as the festive period begins.
She said: “It’s the time of year when people have to be more vigilant.
“It is getting darker earlier, and it would appear that these young people were watching this house, looking for an opportunity.
“It is coming up to Christmas, so people have to take more care.
“Obviously, we do not want to build something up that is maybe a one-off in a nice neighbourhood.
“But people need to be more aware at the moment because they have presents and valuable in their houses.
“Over the Christmas period, people will naturally be a little more lax in security, but it is vital that they stay safe.”