Desperate housebreakers are targeting pubs across Scotland forcing business owners to board up their premises.
Crooks have turned their attention from homes to shut down boozers amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Pubs across Glasgow and Edinburgh have been boarding up their premises after they were ordered to close down for the foreseeable future.
A senior police source said: “Criminals are becoming increasingly desperate. As most people are staying at home they have turned their attention to empty public houses and other business premises.
“We’ve received several reports from publicans about thefts, break-ins and vandalism in their establishments. Fruit machines and alcohol are obviously the main attractions.
“Some premises have just been the victims of random vandalism as gangs are roaming the streets thinking they are untouchable at present.”
The news comes after a pub was broken into days after it asked looters to water the plants when it closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Owners of The Thornwood bar in Glasgow shut its doors last Monday and said they had “tidied everything away” ahead of a lengthy closure.
Vandals then broke into the licensed premises in the city’s Dumbarton Road. Nothing was taken but owner Marc Ferries was left with damage to repair. He posted a picture on Instagram and wrote: “If you think I went in to work to tidy up the mess made by the burglars, you’d be spot on.
“If you think I then made a sculpture out of toilet rolls, put on a mullet wig and watered a plant to poke fun at the wee bams, you would also be right.”
Many of the Capital’s iconic buildings have been boarded up following recent lockdown measures. The Balmoral is one of many businesses across the city that has had to close amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The hotel’s ground floor windows and entrances have been boarded up with a notice on display alerting guests about its closure.
Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “These are challenging times and we are committed to making sure that every one of Scotland’s citizens are looked after.
“We continue to support and protect the vulnerable, responding to incidents 24 hours a day. Our officers are in local communities, on routine patrols, engaging with people to urge them to follow the instructions from government.
“We don’t need people to defy what is clear and very, very sensible advice. These are unprecedented times and we will respond accordingly. Those breaking the law will be dealt with appropriately to ensure the public is kept safe from risk and harm.
“We have seen an increase in staff absences, both police officers and police staff but at this point it hasn’t impacted on our ability to provide service.
“We have prioritised frontline response and at this stage, although absences are up and we will continue to monitor them, we are still in a position to provide policing right across the whole of this country.”
