Police are appealing for information following a robbery in Granton Mains. The incident happened around 12.10pm yesterday (Wednesday, 16 September) at the West Granton Community Shop (Sandy’s).
A man entered the shop, brandished a weapon at a member of staff and stole a four-figure sum of cash.
The suspect is described as white, with facial hair. He was wearing a cap, dark top, bottoms and trainers and a black face mask.
Detective Sergeant Gavin Howat said: “Thankfully no-one was injured during this incident but the staff member was left shaken. We believe the man was waiting in the vicinity prior to the incident.
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and I would ask anyone who recognises the description of the suspect to come forward immediately.
“We are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information which may be able to assist to get in touch.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 1403 of 16 September.
Police are appealing for information after a 14-year-old boy was robbed at knifepoint in Blackhall.
The incident happened just after 9pm on Monday, 14 September, when the teenager was walking through a wooded area to the south of Ravelston Park, near to Blackhall Lawn Tennis Club.
There was a group of youths around a small campfire and three boys approached him. One suspect threatened the victim with a knife and took his mobile phone. Fortunately the victim wasn’t physically injured.
The first suspect is described as around 16-years-old, around 5ft 10in tall, skinny build, clean shaven with short brown hair and his right ear pierced. He was wearing a dark bomber jacket and camouflage pattern tracksuit bottoms.
The second suspect is described as around the same age and height, stocky build, clean shaven with ear length ginger hair. He was also wearing a dark bomber jacket.
The third suspect is described as around the same age and height, medium build with dark hair.
Detective Sergeant Mark McGraw, of Corstorphine CID, said: “We’re appealing to anyone who has any information about this incident or witnessed it to contact us.
“It appears it was completely unprovoked and we’re asking for the public’s help to identify those involved. Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3667 of 14 September.”
Break-ins to garden sheds, garages and thefts from gardens are common throughout the country. In fact, many criminals consider this type of crime to be low risk, as they don’t have to force entry to your home.
Many people store bikes, power tools and expensive gardening equipment in their sheds making it very attractive to criminals.
The good news is that there is a lot you can do to outsmart garden thieves. A few simple solutions can make all the difference to the security of your garden:
• Make sure the lock is in good working order. Fit a mortise lock (BS3621:2007) and/or use a good quality closed shackle padlock on your shed door. The hasp should be attached using coach bolts or anti tamper screws rather than basic screws.
• If there are any windows in the garage/shed, fit a grill, adhesive frosting or put a curtain over the window, so that people cannot see in.
• Fit a shed alarm. These can be bought online for around £10.
• Secure all the equipment including bicycles that you can by padlock and chain, make sure it is attached to the building – a ground anchor is preferable.
• Security mark your bicycles, lawnmowers, toolboxes and garden furniture, by engraving, painting or using a DNA security marker kit and register these. Available online.
• Consider installing a garage defender, which secures the door to the ground.• Surrounding hedges or trees should be trimmed or cropped so as not to provide cover for thieves.
• Clear your garden all of debris, rubble and tools that may be used to force entry.
• Install security lighting to illuminate your garden.• Consider topping your fence or wall with a trellis, which will provide an additional barrier and provide support for climbing plants.
• Aggressive plants and shrubs, such as Berberis and Hawthorn can help deter intruders.
• If purchasing security products look for items endorsed with the Sold Secure or Secured by Design logo.
If you see anyone acting suspiciously near to your premises please contact the police immediately with as detailed a description as possible of any person or vehicle involved.
Please call 999 if an emergency and urgent police assistance is required or 101 if not urgent to report the matter to the police.
Police are urging the public to be wary as they have received reports of bogus workmen operating in Edinburgh.
Be on guard if someone attends at your door offering assistance with energy supply, offering other goods or services or offering to carry out any building work or home improvements.
Don’t be afraid to say no and don’t be embarrassed as genuine callers expect you to be careful.
If you’re not sure, don’t answer the door and report the incident to police.
If you know someone who may be vulnerable, please make them aware so that together we can #ShutOutScammers
Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses following a serious assault which took place in Lothian Road onTuesday.
The incident happened outside the Salvation Army shop at around 7.55pm on Tuesday, 1 September.
The victim, a 52-year-old man, was attacked by another man who then ran south along Earl Grey Street in the company of a woman.
The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.
Detective Sergeant John Dunn, from Edinburgh CID, said: “We understand that there may have been several people nearby who witnessed the assault take place and are appealing for them to come forward.
“At least one of these people helped treat the victim prior to the ambulance’s arrival.
“Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident 3304 of 1 September. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”
Police are appealing for information after a 35-year-old man was seriously assaulted in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, 27 August, 2020.
The incident happened around 1am outside Spey Lounge on Leith Walk.
The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment to a serious head injury.The suspect is believed to be male.
Detective Inspector Clark Martin, of Edinburgh CID, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident and witnessed the assault but has not yet spoken to police to come forward.
“I would also ask anyone who was driving in the area and has a dash-cam to check back and see if there is any footage that may be able to assist our investigation.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting reference number 0307 of 27 August, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is calling for new initiatives from the Government to drive down the number of drink-drive related deaths on UK roads.
This follows figures released from the Department for Transport earlier today showing yet another year of stagnation in annual drink-drive statistics, highlighting eight years of zero progress.
Final estimates for 2018 in: Reported road casualties in Great Britain: final estimates involving illegal alcohol levels: 2018, revealed 240 people died in crashes where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit.
An estimated 8,680 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, an increase of one per cent from 8,600 in 2017. That means on average more than 23 people a day were killed or injured as a result of drinking and driving, in 2018.
Most worryingly, the total number of crashes where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit rose by three per cent to 5,890 in 2018, an average of around 16 crashes a day.
IAM RoadSmart is calling for a smarter package of measures from Government to reduce the number of drink-drive related incidents, including a further lowering of the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland; wider use of drink-drive rehabilitation courses; longer running high-profile education and enforcement campaigns and also, following the example of Scotland, by seizing the vehicles of repeat offenders.
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Once again progress on reducing the toll of death and injuries from drink-driving has stalled.
“There is no one simple answer to reducing these figures, but at IAM RoadSmart we believe a much smarter package of measures is needed from the Government including a lower drink-drive limit to reinforce good behaviour, fast-track of evidential roadside testing machines to release police resources and tailored approaches to help drivers with alcohol problems.
“Rehabilitation courses work and we believe all those convicted of drink-driving should be sent on one automatically rather than having to opt in. More use of alcohol interlocks – which require the driver to blow into a mouthpiece on the device before starting or continuing to operate the vehicle – and extra penalties such as vehicle forfeiture, as used in Scotland, could all be part of a more joined-up approach to the problem.”
Overall drink-driving accounted for five per cent of collisions in Great Britain. The highest number of casualties, nearly seven per cent, due to drink-driving occurred in Wales, followed by England and Scotland at around five per cent each. Regionally, in England, casualty rates varied from nearly eight per cent in the East Midlands to nearly four per cent in Greater London.
In 2018, 80 per cent of drink-drive related casualties involved male drivers or riders. Almost two thirds of drink-drive casualties (63 per cent) are aged 25 to 59 but around a quarter (24 per cent) involve people aged 16-24. In both age categories, the casualty rate is higher in drink-drive related collisions than other collisions types.
Neil concluded: “Hard-core drink drivers are simply not getting the message, and these figures will not improve until policy changes.”
Police have issued CCTV images of a man they wish to trace in connection with an attempted robbery which occurred in the Dalry area in April.
The incident happened on Orwell Terrace at around 9.35pm on Wednesday, 1 April 2020.
A 25-year-old man was on Orwell Terrace, when he was assaulted by an unknown man who then attempted to rob him.
It is believed the man pictured may be able to assist the investigation.
Detective Constable Peter Lyons from Corstorphine CID said: “The victim was understandably very shaken as a result of this attack.
“We are appealing for anyone who can help identify this male as he may be able to assist the officers with their enquiries.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3529 of 1st April 2020, or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Police in Edinburgh have released CCTV images of a man that officers believe may be able to assist them with enquiries into robbery at a shop in the city.
The incident happened at premises on Shandon’s Ashley Terrace around 7pm on Tuesday, 23 June, 2020 and a three figure sum of cash was stolen.
Officers believe that the man shown in the image may have information that will assist with their investigation and would appeal to any members of the public who recognise him to come forward.
The man is described as black, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, of a medium build and around 5ft 10ins tall. He is shown in the image wearing a dark grey suit jacket, a black hooded top, black trousers and black leather shoes.
Detective Constable Zaira Marker of Corstorphine CID said: “Nobody was injured but this was a frightening experience for staff and customers alike. Our enquiries are ongoing and I would urge anyone who may be able to identify the man in the images to come forward.
“If you can assist with this or have any other information at all please call 101, quoting incident 3084 of 23 June, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Police are appealing for information following the theft of four high valued pedal cycles. The bikes were stolen from a vehicle which was in a car park in the Haymarket area sometime between Tuesday 4 August 2020 and Thursday 6 August 2020.
They are described as:
1. Black and red Trek Rail 9.8 (2020) E-Bike, medium size carbon frame with ‘Trek’ in black writing. The motor within the bike is Bosch.
2. Lime coloured Whyte S150 bike, large sized carbon frame, with an oval golden chain ring. The bike has Magura MT8 branded brakes with 220mm discs, orange pedals and grips.
3. Blue and white Trek Fuel women’s specific design, small alloy frame, Sram Juicy RS branded brakes with red pedals and 26 inch wheels.
4. Brown Cheetah custom build, extra small alloy frame and 26 inch wheels. It has Whyte DT Rear Suspension which is unique with an adjustable seat post (which is adjustable from the handle bars). It has blue grips and blue pedals.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident 0942 of 6 August 2020. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.
And, completely unrelated …
Get on your bike! Cycle sales skyrocket at Cash Converters
More active lockdown lifestyles have seen cycle sales skyrocket – almost doubling – at UK Cash Converters stores after they re-opened their doors to customers in June.
With lockdown restrictions slowly easing throughout the UK, Brits are now enjoying the great outdoors more than ever, and it looks like more and more families are gearing up to get on two wheels during the school holidays this summer.
New stats from the UK’s leading retailer of second-hand goods, Cash Converters, show bike sales have soared by 74 per cent since re-opening, as thousands turn to its booming high street bargain stores for their new bicycles.
The figures, which cover the initial three-week sales period after non-essential stores were reopened across the UK last month, show the huge spike in cycle sales after lockdown compared to the same period previously.
And it’s not just bikes. More savvy shoppers aiming to bag a bargain are turning to Cash Converters stores and its hugely popular online webshop, with sales of leisure equipment, phones, laptops and the latest tech all rising significantly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Peter Hall, CEO at Cash Converters UK said: “The past few months have been challenging for everyone across the country, with restrictions and limitations greatly impacting the ways we’re able to work, exercise and socialise.
“Now that we can get out and about more freely again, many people have turned to new hobbies and outdoor activities, and we’ve seen huge increases in the sale of so many second-hand goods in our stores – particularly bikes. We’ve also seen increases in other hobby items, such as musical instruments and fishing equipment.
“As a second-hand retailer our prices are always extremely competitive and more people are starting to look for used rather than new because the quality is still there, but it comes with a lower price tag. When it comes to gaming, jewellery, baking equipment, DIY tools and everything else in between, people are turning to Cash Converters more than ever.
“And it’s not just about buying from us, if people are keen to unlock the value of their unused goods, jewellery, tech and other household items – or they need to make space in their home – they’re able to sell those to us for cash there and then or use our buy back service.”
Cash Converters is a franchised retailer which buys and sells pre-owned goods in 196 stores throughout the country. For more information, visit https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/.
