A BREAK-IN? IT'LL TAKE 3 DAYS TO SEND A COP; EXCLUSIVE Frightened villagers fobbed off by police.

Byline: By Moira Kerr

SHOCKED villagers who reported an attempted break-in were told it would take three days for police to come out.

Residents of Dalavich in rural Argyll believe they were left vulnerable when their community constable went on holiday.

And when they phoned a cop call centre in Glasgow to ask for help last Monday, they were told nobody would be available until Thursday.

The break-in attempt was reported to Strathclyde Police when the alarm went off twice. Jas Duffy, chairman of Dalavich Social Club, said: "There were marks on the door where they had prised a jemmy and there were wood shavings on the floor.

"It was ridiculous to say that there wasn't anyone available til Thursday."

The incident has infuriated locals, including councillor Elaine Robertson, who reported the incident to police in Oban on Tuesday.

She said: "When they were told, our local police responded immediately. They said they did have someone on duty on Monday night who could have checked the incident.

"Somebody in Glasgow decided it was not of significant importance to send an officer to investigate.

"There are queries on the competence of people at a call centre in Glasgow, to make decisions without local advice."

Community councillor Marilyn Henderson said: "This has left some people frightened. They don't like the thought of a police officer not being there when they want one."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said the club secretary, who called them, agreed that police would "attend at a later time".

She added: "It was decided due to the high volume of calls experienced, together with the severe weather conditions, an officer would not be attending i mmediately."

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REPORT: Elaine Robertson