Frederick St jewellery robbery latest

Gunman last seen in Pilton Drive North

Police are appealing for witnesses following yesterday’s armed robbery at a city centre jewellers. Investigations are ongoing into the raid at Frederick Street jewellers Laing, but some further details have emerged.

A man entered the jewellers at around 9.30 with a handgun and threatened staff before making off made off with twelve to fifteen high value Rolex watches with a value of up to £100,000.

No members of staff were injured during the armed robbery, but all were shaken during a terrifying ordeal. The shop remained closed all day while investigations continued but is expected to open again this morning.

The man fled from the scene and ran along Rose Street, Rose Street Lane and into Hanover Street. He attempted to hijack a black taxi, then a delivery van without success before making his escape in a private hire saloon car. He forced the driver – who also had a passenger in his vehicle – to take him to the Pilton.

Detective inspector Grant Johnston said: “The suspect was followed by a member of staff from Frederick Street into Rose Street and then into Rose Street Lane where we believe he may have tried to get into a black cab and may have exchanged words with a van driver.

“Following that he got into a private hire taxi that had a fare in the back. He threatened the driver with a gun and he demanded that the driver take him to the north side of Edinburgh where he got out in Pilton Drive North. That’s the last sighting of him, leaving the taxi.”

The armed robber was last seen when he got out of the vehicle in Pilton Drive North on the corner of Royston Mains Crescent.

He is described as male, white, early 30s, 5ft 10inches tall, wearing a dark padded hooded jacket, blue trousers, blue and white scarf and carrying a black and white rucksack.

Anyone who can assist police with their ongoing enquiries is asked to come forward. Detective Sergeant Raymond Gray said: “This robbery left the staff badly shaken but thankfully unhurt.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the man, or has information about the crime, so that we can trace him as soon as possible.

“I would ask those with information to contact police immediately on 101.”

Armed robber’s taxi to Pilton?

An armed robber is believed to have hijacked a taxi and taken it to Pilton after robbing a city centre jewellers at gunpoint this morning.

The man entered Laing the jewellers in Frederick Street at 9.30. He brandished a handgun and threatened staff before stealing a number of high value items – the jeweller specialises in high-end, expensive watches.

The thief then ran along Rose Street and into Hanover Street where he is understood to have hijacked a private hire car.

The cab driver was ordered to drive to the north of the city – it’s thought that there may have been a passenger may inside the taxi at the time of the hijack but police have yet to confirm the reports.

The suspect was last seen when he got out of the vehicle on the corner of in Pilton Drive North and Royston Mains Crescent.

The man is described as white, in his early 30s and 5ft 10in tall. He was wearing a dark padded hooded jacket, blue trousers and a blue and white scarf and was carrying a black and white rucksack.

Police are appealing for witnesses. Detective Sergeant Raymond Gray said: “This robbery left the staff badly shaken but thankfully unhurt.
We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the man, or has information about the crime, so that we can trace him as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police drive home security message

Police Scotland’s ongoing work with local communities to tackle housebreaking in Edinburgh is having some success. Earlier this week police reported that seven people have been arrested and charged for over 30 housebreaking-related offences offences and said over one hundred local residents attended a domestic security information event in Davidson’s Mains.

On February 25 an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with 11 housebreakings to businesses and a vehicle theft in Edinburgh. He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday.

A 15-year-old Edinurgh youth was charged with over 10 offences following the recovery of a Ford Ka, stolen on January 29, which contained various items linked to recent housebreakings. A report has been submitted to the Children’s Panel.

On February 12, SART and the Domestic Violence Reduction Unit (DVRU) officers executed two search warrants in the Moredun area of Edinburgh where they recovered a large quantity of stolen bicycles, some of which were taken from housebreakings.

A 39-year-old woman and three men aged 52, 35 and 28 were arrested and charged in connection with seven offences and £5500 worth of stolen property was recovered. All bikes were identified and returned to their rightful owners.

A 16-year-old Edinburgh man was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle at 9pm on February 24. The vehicle was searched and various electronic items stolen through housebreakings were recovered, and the vehicle seized. An address was searched in connection with these thefts the following day and further stolen items were recovered. The male was arrested and charged and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Chief Inspector Stevie Dolan said: “Through comprehensive and dedicated investigations we have managed to recover thousands of pounds worth of property and report various prolific offenders to the procurator fiscal.

“Enquiries are ongoing and we have more work to do, but this is testament to Police Scotland’s dedication to pursuing offenders of housebreakings and ensuring that they are brought before the courts.”

As well as pursuing criminals, police officers have been out and about offering domestic security advice to Edinburgh residents.

Sergeant Philipa Campbell ran a Domestic Security event for members of the public at Davidson Mains Parish Church on Wednesday 24 February – over one hundred members of the local community attended and gave extremely positive feedback regarding the learning and reassurance provided by officers and council representatives. They also provided vital input into policing in their community.

The next meeting will be held at Drum Brae Hub on 18 March, 6pm – 7:30pm.

Fidra Court explosives: man pleads guilty

Man admits Fidra and Persevere Courts explosives offences

An Edinburgh man has admitted possessing explosive substances after a significant number of items were found in two properties in the north of the city last year.

Faris Al-Khori, (62), today pleaded guilty under the Explosive Substances Act 1883, Section 4, following the recovery of material from two flats in Fidra Court and Persevere Court (below) last April. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The items were discovered following a fire in a communal area of Fidra Court on Friday 18 April. Both flat complexes were evacuated whilst suspect items were recovered by army explosives experts.

Detective Superintendent David Gordon, who led the investigation said: “This was a significant and complex inquiry for Police Scotland, working with our partners from the outset to safely deal with the volatile items that were being stored, and to seek to establish Al-Khori’s motives for keeping them.

“Extensive inquiries both nationally and internationally were carried out, which did not identify any link to terrorism or extremism. We are satisfied there is no immediate threat to the community.

“Counter terrorism is one of Police Scotland’s highest priorities, and whilst Al-Khori has no such known links we will always treat all information received with the utmost importance where any risk to the public is identified. Members of the public can call 101 or the anti terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. We welcome the conviction at the High Court today and await sentencing.”

Two plead guilty to West Pilton attempted murder

Two men have pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow for attempting to murder a Chinese man in Pilton last October. Garry Reid (19) and James Hogg (24) pleaded guilty of the attempted murder of Jie Yu, who was attacked in West Pilton Park on Wednesday 1 October.

The incident sparked outrage in the local community and residents demanded action against crime and antisocial behaviour at public meetings in West Pilton. That community concern instigated the formation of the multi-agency #StrongerNorth initiative, which is ongoing.

The two men were swiftly apprehended after the attack. Police followed a positive line of inquiry and, acting on intelligence and local information, Reid was arrested and charged on the day after the attack; Hogg was apprehended the following week.

Mr Yu suffered stab wounds and his injuries gave cause for concern at one stage. He was treated for serious injuries at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and then at St John’s Hospital in Livingston but he was later released and now continues his recovery at home with his family.

Hogg pleaded guilty to attempted murder, while Reid pleaded guilty to attempted murder with racial aggravation. They will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Inspector David Pinkney said: “This was a brutal attack on a well liked and regarded member of the West Pilton community. Officers worked quickly in order to bring Reid and Hogg to justice for their crimes. Now that Gary Reid and James Hogg have pleaded guilty, I hope Jie and his family can move on from this ordeal.”

Community Inspector David Happs said: “This was an incident that shocked residents in the West Pilton community and led to the launching of Stronger North.

“This is an ongoing initiative, which has seen positive changes in the local area. While there is still work to do, we are committed to working with our partners to create and maintain a better community for the people of North Edinburgh.”

One local resident, who has supported the #StrongerNorth initiative since it’s launch, said: “That attack was one of the blackest moments in this area’s history, it was an awful incident but some good has come of it. It is good that we can move on from this now and work together to ensure that Pilton is known as a welcoming place for everyone to live and work”.

PEP’s minibus fleet attacked by vandals

Drivers turned up at Pilton Equalities Project’s yard for work this morning only to discover the organisation’s minibus fleet had been wrecked by vandals overnight.

Minibuses were broken into and goods were stolen during the incident. At least three minibuses are now off the road awaiting replacement back windows – drivers and volunteers have made running repairs to others to ensure essential pickups can go ahead today.

PEP manager Helen Tait said: “I am angry and I am upset. This is so pointless, there is nothing to be gained by doing things like this. We now have to get three buses out to Newbridge today to get their windows replaced – if we don’t, we will be forced to cancel jobs and let people down next week.

“As well as the inconvenience, there is the cost involved – like all voluntary organisations money is tight and this is expenditure we could well do without. We’re now forced to spend a lot of money – hundreds of pounds – on repairs, that’s money that should have been spent on improving services for our clients. It’s sickening.”

If you have any information on the incident please contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Motorists: beware scam emails

DVLA warns the public of an email scam that asks drivers to verify their driving licence and vehicle tax details via an online link …

The email, which wrongly claims to have been sent from DVLA, appears to be an attempt to trick drivers into providing personal details. DVLA have NOT sent out an email asking customers to update or verify their details.

We’re aware that some members of the public have received these emails and we strongly advise anyone who receives one of these or any similar email, to ignore it and not to follow the instructions given.

The government, led by Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service (GDS), will continue to investigate reports of organisations which may be actively misleading users about their services or acting illegally, taking swift action when necessary. By using the online driving licence or vehicle tax transactions on GOV.UK you can be sure that you are dealing directly withDVLA.

You can find the online driving licence and vehicle tax services in the driving licence and vehicle tax sections of GOV.UK.

More funding to help reduce reoffending

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has announced a near £1 million funding package for three leading voluntary organisations working to reduce reoffending in Scotland.

The funding will allow Apex Scotland, SACRO and Families Outside to continue to deliver a range of specialist services in 2015/16 for offenders and their families, helping to stop the cycle of reoffending.

The work of the three organisations includes targeted action to address underlying issues which fuel crime, help with employment, rehabilitation and support to ensure family links are maintained so that the children of offenders do not go down the wrong path in life.

Families Outside estimate that 27,000 children lose a parent to imprisonment each year.

Last month, the Justice Secretary announced that plans for a new women’s prison at Inverclyde will not go ahead as he wants to pursue a bolder, more ambitious approach for Scotland.

Today, Mr Matheson confirmed that a series of local engagement events will take place across the country next month to allow all those with an interest to give their views on the future of female offending as part of an on-going consultation on delivering a more radical plan for Scotland.

Speaking following a meeting with the Families Outside charity who received a 15 per cent increase in funding, Mr Matheson said: “When it comes to the justice system, we must be smarter with the choices we make and be more sophisticated in the way in which we deal with offenders in Scotland.

“We need to do everything we can to break the cycle of reoffending and end the revolving door to our prisons which sees low level offenders going in and out of prisons time and time again. Scotland can do better and we can be bolder in our approach.

“We need to look at the wider picture of offending, ensuring for example, that links to the family and community can be maintained, whilst targeted work is undertaken to address the specific issue which is fuelling the crime such as alcohol, drugs or mental health issues.

“The three organisations we are helping with funding today are doing some fantastic work to break the cycle of offending through targeted intervention and I am pleased to announce this support for them,

“Whilst it is for the Courts to decide who receives a custodial sentence, I want to ensure we are providing the best possible support to offenders to help turn their lives around.”

Philip Dunion, Director of Finance, Apex Scotland said: “Apex Scotland is delighted to receive this award from the Scottish Government. As a national charity this will enable us to continue to be at the forefront of policy development in relation to (ex)offenders and those at risk of offending, contributing to the aims of a fairer and safer Scotland.

“In particular we will be able to continue our drive to finding innovative solutions for our service users and to underpin our high quality service provision with a clear focus on evidence of benefit to both our service users and society as a whole.”

Tom Halpin, Chief Executive of Sacro said: “I welcome the Justice Secretary’s announcement of funding to voluntary organisations to help reduce reoffending. This funding from Scottish Government will change people’s lives for the better. It will enable Sacro to deliver direct services to vulnerable people across Scotland who are drawn into the justice system, often through issues associated with inequality and deprivation.

“Sacro’s partnership working is focussed on supporting positive change among those who find themselves in the justice system. It is by addressing the underlying issues that lead people into offending that we will achieve long-lasting and positive outcomes for individuals and their communities.”

Prof Nancy Loucks, Chief Executive of Families Outside, said: “Families Outside is very grateful for the award of funding from the Scottish Government. The impact of imprisonment on the children and families left behind is significant and enduring. It cuts across a wide range of issues including physical and mental health, housing, poverty, victimisation, substance misuse, child and adolescent learning and development, and crime prevention.

“We are pleased to be able to continue this work with the support of the Scottish Government, reaching vulnerable families who are often otherwise unidentified and unsupported.”

Trinity man sees off gang of intruders

Police seek occupants of silver Vauxhall following Trinity robbery

A man fought off up to six intruders after they broke into his home in Trinity earlier this week.

The 36-year-old resident disturbed one of the robbers in his Afton Terrace home at around 9.30pm on Tuesday.

The pair struggled and were joined by more intruders – all are thought to be teenagers – who entered the house by the back door. The robbers then ran off and escaped in a silver Vauxhall which was parked at the front of the house.

It is understood a quantity of cash was taken.

The first robber is described as white, 5ft 10in, slim, around 17 years old, with short dark hair and was wearing a black woolly hat and a dark navy tracksuit with stripes and a gold logo on the arm.

The second was white, around 19 years old, 5ft 10in, slim, with short hair and was wearing a white and red scarf over his face, grey hoodie and grey trousers.

A third was white, around 19, 5ft 8in and chubby. The others are described as aged between 16 and 18 and wearing dark clothes.

Detective Constable Mark Seymour said: “This was a very frightening experience for the victim who discovered the suspects within his home and who was then assaulted.

“Anyone who was in the area of Afton Terrace and Granton Road at around 9.30pm and saw a silver Vauxhuall car or has information about who was responsible is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Ferry Road armed robberies: man to appear in court today

Police in Edinburgh have arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with two armed robberies in the Ferry Road area.

Both incidents occurred in Ferry Road, Edinburgh. The first incident took place at a BP Garage on Sunday, January 18, while the second incident was at Scotbet on Tuesday, January 27.

He was arrested at Levenmouth Police Station on Wednesday evening and is now in custody in Edinburgh. He will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday).

Detective Constable Mark Seymour said: “The culprit was identified after we received information following the release of CCTV stills in the media. I would like to thank the public for their assistance with this.”