Edinburgh’s visitors and locals are being advised to take care of their personal possessions while out in the busy city centre over the coming weeks. As part of Operation Summer City – Edinburgh’s Festival policing campaign – officers are once again promoting the ‘Hold Onto Your Stuff’ initiative and providing the public with useful information on safeguarding their valuables.
The Festival is now well underway and hundreds of thousands of tourists will join residents within the Capital to experience the various attractions and events taking place. With so many people occupying the city, police are keen to ensure that the public do not fall victim to opportunistic criminals looking to steal their belongings.
Sergeant Philippa Boyd from the Prevention, Intervention and Partnership Department said: “Police Scotland is committed to ensuring those attending the festival, other visitors to Edinburgh and local residents can do so without falling victim to a theft or similar crime.”
“The type of thefts we typically see during this time of the year are as a result of bags, suitcases, jackets and electrical goods being set down or left unattended in busy city centre areas and I would urge those coming to the city to always keep an eye on all of their possessions and report any suspicious activity.”
“Operation Summer Police officers are patrolling in high visibility and plain clothes across the City Centre and engaging Festival goers, local businesses and residents across the city centre to issue ‘Hold Onto Your Stuff’ advice. We are also working with festival event organisers, City of Edinburgh Council CCTV and other partners to prevent such crime from taking place and help deter would-be thieves.”
There are also some simple steps members of the public can take to protect their property when out and about during the festival:
• Keep your purse secure and carry wallets in an inside pocket, zip up hand and shoulder bags and carry bags in front of you against your body.
• Make sure the straps on your bag is short and tucked under your arm and try to avoid displaying jewellery or valuable items. Do not have money visible, keep it safely in your pocket.
• Make use of purse bells or other measure to alert you if someone attempts to steal your property.
Copies of the leaflet, purse bells and other crime prevention advice are available at the Police Information Centre on the High Street and at the ‘Unofficial Fringe Venue 999’ in East Princes Street Gardens – these are free, just pop in to speak to police at these locations to pick them up.
If you witness any suspicious activity you can report to Police Scotland on 101.
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