Appeal to residents and holiday-makers after stolen property recovered in Orkney

Police in Orkney are appealing for local residents and holiday-makers to check their properties, outbuildings and holiday homes, as officers look to identify victims following the recovery of numerous stolen items.

In response to a number of recent break-ins, officers carried out a search warrant at a property on the island of Hoy, on Friday, 5 May, 2023. Numerous stolen items were recovered, including tools and garden equipment, some of which remains unaccounted for.

Enquiries remain ongoing into the thefts and officers are following a positive line of enquiry. Police are asking people to check their buildings to look for signs of break-ins and that they may be an unsuspecting victim of a crime.

Detective Sergeant Marcus Shearer, from Kirkwall CID, said: “It appears that outbuildings, holiday homes and lets were the primary targets in this crime series, but we would appeal for anyone who believes they may have been a victim to come forward. This particularly applies to the island of Hoy, where the items were recovered.

“Anyone with information or concerns should call police on 101, quoting crime reference CR/0053491/23.”