Local shopkeeper Colin Smith of the Market Garden in Brookend, Ross, contacted the Ross Gazette last week to ask the paper to pass on his thanks to the town's CCTV operators and the police.

He said that sometime last Tuesday some of his stock, including a sack of pickling onions, was stolen from outside the shop. An operator from the CCTV cameras then contacted a neighbour's shop to say that the same person had returned to the shop on Wednesday. Colin tried to stop the young man but he ran off. Luckily the police had also been alerted and although they were not able to find the man then they now believe that will be able to identifying him this week.

Colin said he had not realised how effective the cameras were. He said:?"I am very impressed with how controlled the town is now. The police are doing a really good job of keeping everything under control."

A police spokesman confirmed that an unknown male was caught on CCTV approaching the display outside a shop in Brookend. He took a couple of bags of onions and left without making any attempt to enter the shop or pay. The CCTV cameras followed him around the town. They spotted the same man again on Wednesday.