With its cheerful coloured houses and postcard-perfect harbour it is one of Scotland’s most recognisable tourist hotspots.  

But now shopkeepers in the picturesque town of Tobermory, on the isle of Mull, are warning each other to be vigilant after some visitors apparently left with more than just happy memories.  

Following a buzzing summer, a spate of shoplifting has put businesses on their guard, with stock-takes finding that items have vanished from shelves without ever coming past a till.  

Gifts, painted rocks – and even a sparkly octopus costume have all gone missing. 

The Mull Pottery Shop in Tobermory, which sells a selection of local crafts from candles to clay sculptures, was one store which noticed items have gone missing.  

Manager Karen Lambie said businesses were trying to figure out what to do next, as security measures had failed to deter light-fingered visitors. 

Tobermory Harbour Tobermory Harbour (Image: NQ) Ms Lambie told the Oban Times: "I’m not sure what else we can do. We already have CCTV and signs around the shop that people are being monitored. It’s hard to identify who the culprits are.   

 "Unfortunately many of the shops [in Tobermory] have been reporting the same thing this year. 

 "We also know it’s not likely to be residents as we can recognise them and they rarely shop in the gift stores. So we know its visitors, which is a real shame as we want people to visit Mull and Iona." 

Mull is one of Scotland’s most accessible islands, with ferries from Oban taking day-trippers and holidaymakers Craignuire.  

As well as the colourful Tobermory – which is home to Mull’s only distillery – the island boasts attractions such as Duart castle, Aros park and the white sand beaches Scotland’s islands are famous for.  

Wildlife watching and hiking is a popular pastime for visitors, with the island dominated by its own Munro – Ben More – while golden and white-tailed eagles nest on the island.  

Mull is also ‘home’ to the fictional town of Balamory, featured in the children’s TV programme of the same name.  

PC Plum was Balamory's resident police officerPC Plum was Balamory's resident police officer (Image: NQ) Crime is rare on island and across the Inner Hebrides, but this tourist season has seen a small surge.  

Fellow gift Tobermory shop Island Blue reported a backpack stolen from its premises in July, but the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, a marine conservation charity based in Tobermory, was the scene of the most brazen theft of all.  

Staff at the charity’s Hebridean Whale Centre were shocked to discover that an item had gone missing from its interactive playroom, which is set up like a boat and provides entertainment and education for children passing through the town.  

Amid the colouring-in tables, the charity keeps a collection of nautical themed fancy-dress costumes.  

One of the most popular costumes was a large sparkly octopus, before it disappeared one summer’s day.  

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Siobhán Moran, of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, said: "It’s sad to see this happening on the island. 

"Unfortunately, in July the octopus costume disappeared from our playroom, and since it is big and bright, it is hard to imagine this being an accident.” 

However, the story had a happy ending, with locals rallying round to help the charity.  

Ms Moran continued: "We put out a post on a local Facebook group to appeal for its return and were very moved when a group of locals, led by Helen Murray, clubbed together to buy us a replacement.  

 "We are a small charity and love to be able to offer a free, safe play space for families.  

 "We were incredibly moved that our local community rallied round and are delighted to say our current octopus is still here and still a huge hit with families." 

Tobermory from the air Tobermory from the air (Image: NQ) Mull is not the only island experiencing a small crime wave. A community store on Jura, which has a population of just 200, was targeted by thieves in September, leaving the community reeling. 

Tobacco products were taken during the break-in, said to be the first crime on the island in decades, after the door to the store was forced in.  

Staff discovered packets of the missing items the next day, while miniature bottles of alcohol were also scattered across the floor. 

Police Scotland have encouraged anyone with concerns about theft to report them on 101 so that enquiries can be carried out.