A MAN has been arrested following a series of break-ins and attempted break-ins in Clackmannanshire in the early hours of Wednesday, January 9. 

The Co-op and Brian Devlin Butchers in Dollar were two of the shops targeted, along with a premises in Tillicoultry.

Police have confirmed a 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incidents, which are being treated as linked. 

An employee at the Co-op told the Advertiser: "We got ransacked. It happened at about twenty past two in the morning. 

"Some cigarettes were stolen - about £1,000 pounds worth and a door was broken."

The shop was closed for several hours in the morning on Wednesday, but had reopened by lunch time.

The employee added:"We're back to normal now; well, as normal as we can be after that."

Commenting on the attempted break-in at Brian Devlin Butchers, Craig Fagan said: "They tried to get in the back door with a crow bar, but couldn't get the back door open. 

"I'm alarmed anyway, so if they got in that thing would have gone off like a rocket. 

"In the meantime we've got the mess to clean up, so we've went out and got new bolts for the doors."

A police spokesperson said: "Police Scotland are investigating a break-in and an attempted break-in to businesses in the Dollar area, and a break-in at a premises in Tullicoultry, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday 9th January. 

"A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with these incidents, which are being treated as linked, and enquiries are currently ongoing."