There were zero shoplifting reports in Kilwinning throughout June – with police revealing goods had been donated to repeat-offenders during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Police reported zero incidents of shoplifting for that month when briefing Kilwinning’s community councillors, adding that officers had also been dealing with increasing reports of people not socially-distancing over the recent months.

Kilwinning Locality Police Sgt Martin Lewis said: “There were zero reports of shoplifting for June, strangely.

“I have been informed that there was food boxes handed out to repeat offenders by the police in Kilwinning through June and July, that may have had an effect.

He added: “But you will see through July that this is starting to rise again.”