Members of Balwearie Golf Club in Kirkcaldy have been falling foul of a cunning crow who has been attempting to steal their possessions while they play the course!

The black feathered 'friend' has been waiting until golfers leave their bags to take a shot before making his move and has apparently already managed to make off with a wallet, £20 and other swag.

A reader who didn't want to be named tipped off The Press about the crafty crow: "My friend plays at Balwearie and told me all about it - apparently the crow is the talk of the club house.

"It hangs about in the trees at a certain hole on the course and swoops in when golfers put their bags down to play a shot. It can actually unzip golf bags.

"My friend saw the crow and assumed it was after his golf ball but the next thing he knew it was off with his wallet! Luckily it dropped it as it flew off and he managed to get it back but he's also heard of others who have lost items including a £20 note and a mobile phone!"

Scott Thomson, professional at Balwearie, added he was aware of the criminal crow's activities and has witnessed them first hand!

"It happened to someone I was playing a round with, the crow waited until he'd left his bag but when we walked over to it, it started moving away. It'll try and make off with anything it can get away with, things it can pick up, shiny things."

He added the unlawful carrion is definitely something different for golfers to have to contend with at Balwearie while they perfect their shots around the course but nobody has wanted to 'shoot the crow' just yet for its sticky claws and love of other people's property.

"It's definitely unusual and not something you hear about every day. It's certainly something I've not seen before!" Scott said.

According to the RSPB the carrion crow is known for it's ingenuity and intelligence, so perhaps it's no surprise that the 'Balwearie Bandit' has taken advantage of the plentiful bounty in the local sportsmen's bags.

"The all-black carrion crow is one of the cleverest, most adaptable of our birds.

"It is often quite fearless, although it can be wary of man," an RSPB spokesman said.

"They are fairly solitary, usually found alone or in pairs. The closely related hooded crow has recently been split as a separate species.

"Carrion crows will come to gardens for food and although often cautious initially, they soon learn when it is safe, and will return repeatedly to take advantage of whatever is on offer."