Police Scotland probe after 30 lorries have curtains slashed in South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway

Police are looking for the culprits who slashed the curtains of 30 lorries in just an hour and a half.

Officers say the incidents along the A74(M) on Friday morning followed a spate of attempted thefts across three service stations on the motorway.

Police Scotland was called out to Abington Services in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, at around 1.30am after a lorry driver was threatened by a group of men.

A quantity of alcohol was taken from his vehicle between 12am and 1am.

The men then left in a lorry with a white cab and it is believed they headed south on the A74(M).

Police said they later established that ten vehicles at Johnstonebridge and 20 at Gretna, both in Dumfries and Galloway, had their curtain sides cut between 1am and 1.30am.

Inspector Tony Gallagher said: “Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would urge anyone who may be able to help to come forward.

“We would be keen to speak to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity at any of these service stations or who may have dash-cam footage from Thursday night or the early hours of Friday morning.”

Detective sergeant Ally Queen, of Dumfries CID, said: “Despite the time of night, the motorway would have been busy and I am asking people to get in touch with any information that could assist, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear.”

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0194 of Friday, 15 December 15 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.