THERE WAS a "notable" spike in the number of cars being stolen in West Fife in the past year with 40 offences being carried out by two offenders.

A report to councillors highlighted the surge in thefts as well as a slight rise in housebreakings with both residential and commercial properties targeted.

The update was given to members of the South and West Fife area committee.

In a report Community Inspector Cheryl Young stated: "Enquiries remain ongoing into a number of these incidents in an effort to identify those responsible through forensic opportunities and to recover stolen property.

"During the commission of a proportion of these housebreakings, there have been theft of motor vehicles with the keys stolen from the home address.

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"Criminals have evolved and use several tactics and equipment to facilitate this crime type, which includes the use of specific technology."

Inspector Young said this was an emerging trend across Fife and nationally.

She continued: "It is considered a favourable method as it is deemed by the perpetrator to be lower risk in terms of confrontation or detection and offers high rewards for a reduced effort.

"The manner in which these thefts have been committed across Fife Division has varied, with methods including ‘keyless vehicle thefts’, as well as homes being broken into and the vehicle keys being stolen from within the address."

‘Keyless' thefts are when vehicles are stolen during a theft or housebreaking via an electronic compromise where electronic devices and tailored tools are used to enter and steal vehicles, without the need for its true key.

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Following a Scotland-wide surge in vehicle thefts, a national campaign was launched by Police Scotland to co-ordinate the investigation and detection of offences.

Inspector Young continued: "During the investigation of vehicle crimes, through diligent methodical investigation, combined with intelligence and support of the local community, two Fife nominals were detected for the theft of a large number of vehicles across the county.

"The males aged 19 and 24 have been charged with nearly 80 such thefts.

"The 24-year-old male was traced during the commission of a crime by local officers in the Belleknowes Industrial Estate, Inverkeithing, and is currently serving a sentence in prison.

"The 19-year-old male is still subject to proceedings in relation to these offences.

"Around 40 vehicle thefts occurred across South West Fife during the reporting period, with over half attributed to the aforementioned perpetrators."