Tag: Crime

Wig thief hunted by Police

A THIEF who assaulted a woman on New Year’s Day made off with her bag – and her novelty wig.

The 22-year-old woman was walking home from Hogmanay celebrations in the capital on Sunday morning when she was assaulted by the New Year’s reveller.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the attack.

The incident happened at 1am on January 1, when the student was walking opposite theWestern General Hospital.

A man stopped the woman and said “Happy New Year” before snatching her wig and handbag.

The novelty wig fell off and the thief made off with it and her small silver handbag  which contained her keys and mobile phone, which he pulled from her shoulder.

A Lothian and Borders police spokesperson said: “This was a particularly distressing incident for the victim who fortunately was not injured. It was a totally unprovoked attack on an innocent young woman who had been heading home after enjoying a night out. She made her way home before contacting us but was obviously very upset by what had happened.

“This is quite a busy area and there would have been a lot of traffic around that time. We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this and especially appeal to taxi drivers who may have been in the area and seen the suspect.”

The thief is described as being a white man in his 20’s, and is around 5ft 8 in.

He has short ginger hair and was wearing a white T-shirt and dark coloured trousers at the time of the attack.

He was last seen heading in the direction of Orchard Brae.

Anyone who has information about the attack should contact Lothian and Borders police on 0131 311 3131 or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800555111.

Man beaten after questioning gang

A man was punched to the ground and kicked after questioning a group that were drinking in his close.

The 62-year-old went into the common stair in Ferry Road Drive at around 7.30am on Sunday.

He found a group of three men and a woman sat in the close drinking and asked them what they were doing there.

One of the men punched him in the face and the victim fell to the ground before another man started kicking him. The group then left the close.

The victim went to St John’s Hospital where he was treated for a broken jaw and reported the attack to the police on Tuesday.

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses as they try and find the men responsible.

The first suspect is described as a white man aged around 20, around 5ft 10in tall and well built with short, fair hair. He was wearing a sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms at the time of the attack.

The second man is also white and around 20 years old. He is around 5ft 8in tall with a slim build and dark brown or black hair.

A police spokesman said: “This was an unprovoked and vicious assault that resulted in a man suffering a painful and serious facial injury.

“Given the time of day, there may have been a number of people in the streets on their way to work and anyone who remembers seeing anything suspicious in the Ferry Road Drive area on Sunday morning is asked to contact police immediately.

“Similarly, if anyone can assist in identifying those responsible for this attack, they are also asked to get in touch.”

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

Police Welcome Progress As Crime Rates Fall

THE number of crimes recorded in Lothian and Borders has fallen by more than seven per cent during the last year, with around 5000 fewer offences being reported. New figures showed that sex crimes and crimes of dishonesty both fell between last April and March, but violent crime rose.

Police

Police chiefs welcomed the overall reduction in offending after revealing the 7.2 per cent drop, which followed on from an 8.3 per cent decrease the previous year.

The force also recognised the rise in violent crime, which included a soaring number of murders, and pledged to ensure those responsible were brought to justice. For the 11-month period between last April and February, violent crime climbed by 15 per cent across the force area, including a nine per cent rise in serious assaults. In Edinburgh during the same period, crimes of violence increased by 11 per cent, but there was an overall five per cent decline in reported offences. Across the city, sex crimes were down by 13 per cent while crimes of dishonesty were reduced by three per cent.

Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “We are pleased to report a 7.2 per cent drop in overall recorded crime over the last year.”The launch of our Community Commitment, which puts community policing firmly at the heart of what we do, has given added impetus to the progress in reducing crime.”

Police launched 11 murder investigations in the Capital between last April and March, compared with six for the previous year. ACC Livingstone added: “While our figures reflect a rise in the most serious types of violent crime, it is relevant to point out that incidents of minor assaults – by far the most common type of assault – have dropped significantly over the past year”

Councillor Paul Edie, the city’s community safety leader, said: “We still have to crack the alcohol problem which has always been at the root of violent crime. But I’m very pleased with the overall drop in crime in Edinburgh.”