Pair charged over blank cheque theft

A WOMAN and a man were arrested and charged in connection with the theft of two blank cheques from a charity which were later used to obtain hundreds of pounds.

The 31-year-old woman and 32-year-old man, both from Dalkeith, were detained after the stolen cheques belonging to the local charity were filled out and cashed.

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old woman from Edinburgh was arrested and charged after allegedly cashing a fake business cheque for thousands of pounds at a bank in Loanhead.

The arrests were made as part of Operation Erase, an ongoing campaign to target drug dealers in Midlothian and East Lothian.

Among those arrested were an 18-year-old man from Loanhead, who was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged housebreaking that happened in the town, where a number of tools were stolen.

A police spokesman said: "These arrests followed inquiries which had identified a number of individuals suspected of being involved in criminal activity across Midlothian.

"We will continue to target those who are blighting local communities."