A 14-YEAR-OLD youth was charged with stealing alcohol from the Co-op store in Melrose.

Community councillors were told of the arrest on September 19 in their monthly report from the police.

Alcohol was also seized from a group of youths gathering at the town’s Gibson Park the same day.

It is one of a number of incidents reported at the town centre beauty spot recently.

On September 6, youth were reported to be smashing bottles at Gibson Park but made off before police arrived.

And, on August 27, two local youths were warned in the presence of their parents after some of the woodchips in the children’s play park were set on fire.

Elsewhere in Melrose, two men were allegedly caught burning insulated copper on a fire in woodland near Abbotsford House on September 1 and were subsequently charged with theft of the copper wire and reckless fire raising.

A car was vandalised in Priors Walk on October 10. Its tyres were deflated and paint work scratched. A gents bicycle was stolen from an insecure garage in Huntley Avenue, Melrose sometime between August 22 and 24. And, on September 17, a vehicle registration plate was reported stolen from a car parked in the Burts Hotel car park.

A man was issued with a Fixed Penalty Ticket after allegedly refusing to leave the Kings Arms Hotel in Melrose when asked by staff on August 22.

And fears were voiced that poachers may be targeting the area after roe deer carcasses were found near to the landfill site at Easter Langlee on two separate occasions in over two weeks in August.

Police have urged anyone with information on any of these incidents to call them on 101.