WITNESSES are being sought after a masked group attempted to break into a Townhill home on Wednesday evening.

Michelle Sinclair had been at a friends and when she returned to her Loch Street home, she was unable to gain entry as the key wouldn't work.

On checking her Ring doorbell footage, she was stunned to see three men – all wearing masks – unsuccessfully trying to get into the door leading to her upper floor flat.

"They disappear and jump over the fence at one point to get out and come back with really big screwdrivers," she said.

"They start at the bottom and they have a go at the top one. They tried for a couple of minutes and left again.

"They didn't get in. They must have given up. They completely broke the top part of the lock but the others were fine."

Michelle was glad she was not at home with her daughter when the would-be thieves were there.

"It terrifies me. It feels like they were either looking for my door or it was targeted," she said. "Police were like 'Your's looked the most empty'.

"I am a single mum to a three-year-old and am on benefits. There is nothing of value in here to want. I don't understand it.

"The police came and had to barge the door in. They came and had a look about. They have been door-to-door along the street but nobody has seen or heard anything."

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: “Officers in Dunfermline received a report of an attempted break-in at a property on Loch Street, which is believed to have taken place around 8pm on Wednesday, December 7.

“Enquiries into the matter are ongoing and anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident 1327 of 8 November. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”

The incidents follows a warning from Police Scotland last week over home and vehicle security after a spate of recent incidents in West Fife.

A Ford Transit van, Yamaha quad bike, child’s motocross bike and a KTM motocross bike were taken from a garage in Wellwood on November 6 while a silver VW van was taken from Main Street, Saline, on November 8.

A van with over £30,000 worth of tools and equipment was stolen from Rose Street in Dunfermline on November 17 while, between November 26 and 27 a grey or silver coloured Range Rover was seen at a housebreaking in Donibristle Gardens, Dalgety Bay, where a number of items, including expensive watches, were stolen.

At the time, Detective Inspector Kieran Marsh said: “We are asking people to be extra vigilant and security conscious, especially in the run up to the Festive period when they may have more valuable items around.

"Please consider reviewing your security and if it could be enhanced by alarms, motion-activated lights or CCTV.

“Prevention is a big part of policing and the public has a vital role to play in this."

Again, anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.