A thief has heaped more misery on a group of Dundee residents by looting their burned-out properties only weeks after they were made homeless.
Thousands of pounds worth of items have been stolen from the fire-ravaged five-storey tenement block in Garland Place, including a games console, mobile phones and clothing.
One of those left counting the cost is Elaine Anderson, who does not have home insurance. She was horrified to discover her ground-floor flat had been targeted, with around £2,000 of belongings taken.
More than a dozen people lost their homes last month when fire broke out. Firefighters from Dundee, Perth and Fife battled the blaze.
The entrance to the flats is sealed with wooden boards but Ms Anderson is unhappy that possessions belonging to residents are being left to ”rot”.
”I heard there had been break-ins and I decided to go down,” she said. ”It was very easy to get in. All I had to do was lift up the fence and walk in. I didn’t need a hammer, a crowbar or any tools. There were boards up but I just moved them out of the way and I was inside.”
Ms Anderson discovered items including money, a laptop and two mobile phones were missing. Fearing that the thief would return, she and friends over two hours emptying the flat.
”Not one person in that time questioned us as we were taking things out of the home,” she added.
Ms Anderson said 10 copper boilers had also been stripped from the properties.
She added: ”I don’t understand how someone can get away with carrying 10 copper boilers into a van and nobody around to notice them.”
Tayside Police confirmed they are investigating the thefts and issued an appeal for information.
A spokesman said: ”Officers are keen to trace a man, aged 20 years with short dark hair, tanned complexion, wearing a light brown coat, blue jeans and carrying a black bag.”
Anyone with any information should contact police on 0300 111 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.