THREE men have been charged for various alleged thefts from salons and shops across South Ayrshire.

Beauty salons and other small businesses in Ayr and Prestwick were on high alert last week after it was claimed that one salon in Prestwick was targetted by two men, whilst a launderette in Ayr claimed property was stolen from their premises.

Police have confirmed that three men were remanded at Ayr Sheriff Court on Thursday August 8.

The men were arrested last week as after cops responded to a report that the men had allegedly fled a shop in Ayr.

Officers then traced the men to Maybole where they pursued the suspects who were in a vehicle.

A police chopper was also used to help track the men down, whose vehicle then crashed near farmland south of Maybole.

Detectives have since searched the damaged vehicle and recovered stolen property from within.

A spokesperson for South Ayrshire police division told the Ayr Advertiser: “We can confirm that three men were remanded at Ayr Sheriff Court on Thursday August 8 having appeared from custody for various alleged thefts from salons and shops premises throughout Ayrshire, as well as road traffic offences"

"The alarm was raised last Wednesday when they fled from a shop premises in Ayr. A short time later they were seen by police in Maybole who gave chase and caught them on farmland south of Maybole, with the assistance of the police helicopter.

"Their crash damaged vehicle was seized, searched and stolen property recovered from within.”