SEVEN people are in custody today and three cars have been recovered after a major police operation into alleged car crime.

The arrests followed reports of a series of high-speed police chases in Inverurie and Aberdeen.

Four women, two aged 16 and two aged 23, and three men aged 17, 18 and 21 have been detained as a result of the operation.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.

In one incident a car was abandoned at Inverurie train station.

The recovered vehicles, a BMW X5, an Audi Q5 and a VW Golf had been stolen within the last two weeks.

Police said a BMW X5 was recovered in Inverurie and an Audi Q5 in Aberdeen this morning.

Officers are still trying to trace three other vehicles which have been stolen from the Aberdeenshire area in the last week.

The vehicles include a Silver VW Golf registration OE60 WYU, a black Audi A1 registration SV61 YRL or W23 JLG and a white Vauxhall Combo Van registration SV61 XVA.

Chief Inspector Richard Craig said : “Anyone who has seen these vehicles parked in their street or within a car park in their local community should contact Police Scotland on 101. On some occasions these vehicles have been driven recklessly in the City and Shire endangering other road users.

“As part of Operation Ruby we are using specialist police resources from across the country including air support to assist local officers in the investigation and recovery of these vehicles.”

Reports on social media described a high-speed chase on the roads between Aberdeen and Inverurie as well as a police helicopter in the skies above the city.

A heavy police presence in Northfield was also understood to be connected with the operation.