Police warn of laptop scam

Lothian and Borders Police are once again warning the public of an ongoing laptop sale scam that has hit several people in Edinburgh. Between last October and February this year, criminals targeted 12 people, offering to sell electrical goods for discount prices – only for the buyers to then discover they’ve been duped. Now it appears that the crooks are up to their old tricks again.

Officers urged the public to remain vigilant for this con and come forward if they believed they had been a victim.

A further five individuals have now been approached by fraudsters in the past three weeks and offered the opportunity to buy a laptop on the cheap. Once a fee is agreed, the customer is taken to a nearby vehicle and handed a bag, which contains what they believe to be their new goods. However, when the victim opens the bag, they discover it is filled only with cardboard and bottles of water.

Since October, £5300 has been taken during the incidents, which happened in areas including Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, Clerk Street, St Leonard’s, Meadowbank Retail Park, Gorgie Road and ASDA at the Jewel.

Detective Sergeant John Graham said: “This is not a new scam, but it continues to catch members of the public out, resulting in several thousand pounds of cash being conned from the victims. Our advice remains the same on this matter. If an offer seems to good to be true, then it probably is. Anyone wishing to purchase a laptop or other electrical goods should go to a recognised retailer.

“We are now in the middle of summer and the Capital is getting busier every day, which provides criminals with greater opportunities to scam people out of their money or possessions. Anyone who would like advice on crime prevention can visit their local policing team or visit the Lothian and Borders Police website. Detectives would also urge anyone who believes they’ve been affected by this scam to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Stolen school files recovered

Dozens of school pupil files that were stolen from a city council worker’s home during a burglary have been recovered. The files contained information about Broughton High, Granton and Forthview Primary School pupils who have had contact with the Education Welfare Service.

It’s understood that the data records, stolen during a break-in last month, concerned the childrens’ school attendance.

A city council spokesperson said: “The files were recovered on Wednesday after the car that had been used in the robbery was found. The files do not appear to have been tampered with and we have sent a letter out to all the families to let them know this.”

Police seek help following Trinity break-in

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following a high-value break-in and theft from a house in Trinity. The incident happened sometime between 2.30pm and 4.30pm last Tuesday (24 July) at an address in Craighall Bank.

When the homeowner returned to the property, he found that several items including over 100 pieces of jewellery, a decorative Argentinean knife, a mobile phone and other collectables had been stolen from within. The total value of the stolen objects is currently estimated at around £8,000. However, this is likely to increase as the victim continues his inventory.

Officers are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

A police spokesman said: “The victim has been left devastated by the theft of his property and we have been working alongside him for the last week to establish exactly what has been taken and the values of these goods. During that time we have conducted local enquiries to determine whether any residents in Craighall Bank saw anything suspicious last Tuesday afternoon. We would now urge anyone else who was in the area between 2.30pm and 4.30pm to come forward if they witnessed this break in or if they have any other information that can help with our investigation. Many of these items are very distinctive and anyone who comes across them is asked to contact police immediately.”

‘Shock and Dismay’ over speeding figures

Speeding drivers caught every two minutes during police campaign

Police chiefs are ‘shocked and dismayed’ following a three-day crackdown on speeding drivers. A total of 1837 drivers were detected breaking the speed limit during the 20 -22 July campaign across Scotland – equivalent to one every two minutes.

In addition a further 62 drivers were reported for driving dangerously or carelessly during the campaign organised by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

Among the worst offenders were a 21-year-old man travelling at 114mph in Aberdeenshire, a woman travelling in Edinburgh at 71mph in a 40mph limit with three children in the vehicle, and a man detected at 95mph through road works on the M90 in Fife.

About 12.37pm, Friday 20 July, Road Policing officers stopped a Mercedes ML300 on Cultins Road, Edinburgh as the driver was driving whilst using her hand held mobile telephone. Enquiry revealed that the driver’s driving licence had been revoked earlier this year for an accumulation of 12 penalty points. The vehicle was seized under the terms of section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the driver reported to the Procurator Fiscal. The current value of the vehicle is in excess of £30,000. About 9.50pm on 22 July, Road Policing Officers stopped a 17-year-old from Tranent on the A1 near to Wallyford for speeding. The speed was recorded at 101mph, the driver was reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson from Lothian and Borders Police, who is the ACPOS lead on Casualty Reduction, said: “I am shocked and dismayed at the level of speeding and inappropriate driving which my fellow officers have dealt with during the three days of the campaign. The links between excessive speed and collisions causing death or serious injury are clear and those who flout the speed limits put themselves and others at risk.

“Almost 115,000 speeding offences were recorded in Scotland in 2010/11 which represents over a third of all motor vehicle offences. Speeding is dangerous, costly and unacceptable. This has only reaffirmed the intention to continue our focus on irresponsible drivers, to make sure speed limits are acknowledged and the roads are made safer for everyone in Scotland”.

“Remember that speeding carries a minimum penalty of a £60 fine and three penalty points on your driving licence however, if you are convicted of dangerous driving, you will lose your licence for at least 12 months and you may be ordered to re-sit your driving test.”

'Shock and Dismay' over speeding figures

Speeding drivers caught every two minutes during police campaign

In addition a further 62 drivers were reported for driving dangerously or carelessly during the campaign organised by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

Police renew appeal following Pilrig attack

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was seriously assaulted during the early hours of Sunday morning. The woman was found by members of the public in Pilrig Park.

The 23-year-old had been out with friends in the city centre and left the Picturehouse nightclub around 3am on Sunday 22 July 2012 to return home. CCTV enquires have shown that she made her way onto the West End of Princes Street before walking east.

Members of the public then found the woman within a play area of Pilrig Park at around 6am and contacted the emergency services. The victim suffered serious facial injuries and was taken to hospital, where she continues to be treated. Officers believe the attack was sexually motivated and have urged anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

Detective Inspector Scott Cunningham, who is leading the investigation said: “This has been a brutal and unprovoked attack on a lone woman as she made her way home. Her injuries could only have been caused through significant and violent force and a major investigation has now been launched.

“Anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity in or around the Pilrig Park area in the early ours of Sunday morning is also asked to contact police immediately. We are particularly keen to trace any rickshaw drivers, who may have been on Pilrig Street at around 3.30am. They are urged to get in touch as soon as possible to assist with our enquiries.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Police appeal for witnesses after woman injured

Police are tonight appealing for witnesses after a 23 year old woman was discovered in Pilrig Park at 6.00am this morning with serious facial injuries.

A Police Spokesperson said “A woman aged 23 was found this morning in Pilrig Park with serious facial injuries. She was taken to the ERI for further treatment and our enquiries are ongoing. We would ask anyone who was in the ae at the time or has any information to contact us on 0131 311 3131 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Family plea for return of Elizabeth's bench

Elizabeth Maginnis memorial bench stolen

A bench dedicated to the memory of local councillor Elizabeth Maginnis has been stolen from Elizabeth Maginnis Court in Royston Mains, and the Maginnis family have issued a plea for information that could lead to it’s return.

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association opened the new care home complex in Royston Mains Crescent last November, and the building was named after the late Granton councillor who died in September 2008. The Maginnis family sited the engraved hardwood bench there, where it provided both a quiet and peaceful pspot for residents and visitors and also a place where Maginnis family members could remember a much-loved wife, daughter and mum.

However the bench was stolen last weekend and the family are now desperate for it’s return.

Elizabeth’s husband Michael said: “On Saturday morning Elizabeth’s mother Betty received a call from her friend Ella, who is a resident at Elizabeth Maginnis Court, to say that the bench had gone. She said the bench was definitely there at 10pm on Friday night but it had gone by 8am on Saturday morning”.

He continued: “It’s absolutely awful for the family, deeply upsetting and we’d like to hear from anyone who has any information that could lead to it’s recovery. It’s a unique bench, heavily engraved, and really it’s of no use to anyone other than our family. For us, the bench has been a focus for our family – it was touching when Elizabeth Maginnis Court was named after Elizabeth, but that’s not quite so intimate as having the bench itself. We’re devastated”.

Among the engravings on the bench are the words: ‘In loving memory of Elizabeth Maginnis. A wonderful wife,fantastic mum and great Councilllor’.

There are some indications of how the bench was removed and there are CCTV cameras in the area, but Michael hopes that local people will also come forward with information.

“We are not really interested in who took it or why, we just want the bench back and would be so grateful if local residents would get in touch if they have any information at all. Many local people knew Elizabeth and I think many people will be disgusted with what has happened. If anyone knows anything, however small, please come forward”.

If you have any information that could lead to the recovery of the bench, please telephone Drylaw Police Station on 343 3171, Fettes HQ on 311 3131 or the concierge at Dunedin Canmore on 478 8888. Alternatively you can also call Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Family plea for return of Elizabeth’s bench

Elizabeth Maginnis memorial bench stolen

However the bench was stolen last weekend and the family are now desperate for it’s return.

Among the engravings on the bench are the words: ‘In loving memory of Elizabeth Maginnis. A wonderful wife,fantastic mum and great Councilllor’.

There are some indications of how the bench was removed and there are CCTV cameras in the area, but Michael hopes that local people will also come forward with information.

Terror suspect arrested in Leith

A fugitive alleged to be part of the Basque separatist group, Eta, has been arrested in the Leith area – more than 10 years after he went on the run. Lothian and Borders Police arrested Benat Atorrasagasti Ordonez – who has been on Spain’s ‘most wanted’ list since 2008 – in a Friday night raid.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Edinburgh on two European warrants, in connection with historical crimes committed in Spain and France.

“We can confirm that no armed officers were involved and at no time was any member of the public at risk. The man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday under the terms of the Extradition Act.”

The Basque separatist organisation ETA was formed in 1959, waging a campaign of terror that has included bombings, shootings and kidnappings costing hundreds of lives. The group declared a ‘permanent ceasefire’ in October last year – but it’s only the latest of many.