Early morning school break ins and wilful fire raising in Dundee treated as linked by police

Two early-morning break-ins at schools in Dundee, one which involved wilful fire raising, are being treated as linked by police.

The first incident happened around 2am on Monday at a school in the Berwick Drive area of the city.

Police said that the building was broken into and a fire started in a classroom.

The fire was subsequently put out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and no one was injured, however there was smoke and fire damage to the classroom.

The second incident happened around 3am when officers were called to a report of a break-in at a school in the Garnet Terrace area.

The SFRS also attended as the fire alarm had been activated and this is being treated as malicious.

Inspector Dave Rice said: “Our enquiries into both incidents, which are currently being treated as linked, are ongoing with the fire being treated as wilful.

“Fortunately no one was injured but the consequences of this kind of behaviour could have been much more serious. These kinds of reckless acts have an impact on our communities and will not be tolerated.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the areas around the time of these incidents and who saw anything suspicious to get in touch.

“In addition, if you were driving and have dash-cam that could assist with our enquiries or private CCTV that could help them please make contact with us.”

Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 0208 of Monday, January 23, for the Berwick Drive incident, and reference number 0293 of the same date for the Garnet Terrace incident.

Calls can be made anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.