Police Scotland has released images of four people officers believe may be able to assist in connection with their investigation into threatening behaviour and damage to a bank.
The incident happened on Princes Street around 1.30am on Thursday, 12 September 2024.
Enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible and officers believe the three men and one woman pictured may be able to help with their investigation.
The first man is described as white, around 6ft tall, of slim build with black hair worn in a top knot. He may have a moustache and/or goatee beard. He was wearing a headtorch, a two-tone blue waterproof jacket, a yellow t-shirt, grey trousers, navy trainers and carrying a plain black rucksack. He had a black mountain bike with white forks and a solid black chainring guard.
The second man is described as white, also around 6ft and of slim build. He was wearing a surgical face mask, black baseball cap, black hooded top, brown trousers and navy shoes. He had a dark coloured mountain bike with a distinctive green section at the bottom of the front forks.
The third man is described as white, of heavy build, around 6ft, with short dark hair and a short dark beard. He was wearing a black baseball cap with a large symbol on the front, red jacket with black panels on the inside arms and flanks, bottle green jogging bottoms and dark shoes. He had a black electric pedal bike.
The woman is described as white, around 5ft 5ins, of slight build with short dark hair. She was wearing a navy jumper and beige trousers. She had a distinctive white women’s bike with white front and rear mud guards.
Police Constable Callum Johnston said: “I would urge these people or anyone who knows who they are to get in contact with us.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0211 of Thursday 12 September 2024. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”
Rats are not just a nuisance; they can cause significant damage to your property and pose health risks to you and your family.
Home expert Neil Mckenzie from Halton Stairlifts understands the importance of maintaining a safe and comfortable home environment. One effective way to keep rats at bay is by using natural repellents, including certain plants.
Here’s how you can protect your home from rats using natural methods:
Why Rats are a Problem
Rats are notorious for gnawing on electrical wires, insulation, and structural elements of your home. They can also contaminate food and spread diseases. Preventing an infestation is much easier and safer than dealing with one after it has occurred.
Plants that Repel Rats
Certain plants have natural properties that repel rats. Incorporating these plants into your garden and around your home can be an effective and eco-friendly way to deter these pests.
Mint: Rats dislike the strong scent of mint. Planting peppermint or spearmint around your home can help keep them away. You can also use dried mint leaves or essential oil in areas where rats are a problem.
Lavender: Known for its pleasant aroma to humans, lavender is disliked by rats. Plant it in your garden or use dried lavender sachets inside your home.
Daffodils: These beautiful flowers are toxic to rats and other rodents. Planting daffodils around the perimeter of your property can act as a natural deterrent.
Garlic: The strong smell of garlic is another scent that rats find unpleasant. Planting garlic in your garden or placing cloves in areas where rats are a problem can be effective.
Catnip: While catnip attracts cats, it deters rats. Planting catnip in your garden can create a natural rat repellent.
Additional Tips to Keep Rats Away
In addition to planting natural repellents, here are some additional tips to keep rats out of your property:
Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for any gaps, cracks, or holes that rats could use to enter. Seal these entry points with steel wool, caulk, or metal mesh.
Keep Your Home Clean: Ensure your home, especially the kitchen, is clean and free of food crumbs. Store food in airtight containers to avoid attracting rats.
Remove Clutter: Rats love to hide in cluttered areas. Keep your home and garden tidy to reduce potential hiding spots.
Regular Maintenance: Regularly check for signs of rat activity, such as droppings or gnaw marks, and take immediate action if you notice any.
Proper Waste Management: Keep rubbish bins tightly sealed and dispose regularly to avoid attracting rats to your property.
Neil Mckenzie, home & garden expert from Halton Stairlifts says: “Keeping rats out of your property is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy home environment.
“By using natural repellents like mint, lavender, daffodils, garlic, and catnip, along with following good maintenance practices, you can effectively deter rats. At Halton Stairlifts, we believe in the importance of proactive home care.”
Storm #Arwen tossed the Iron age logboat around and damaged the side. Granton:hub received reports that the boat, which was moored in #Granton#harbour, was in danger.
A big community effort resulted in the boat being paddled away from the harbour wall. Volunteers then pulled it across onto the shore where it is now safe from any further storms.
There will be a repair carried out with the School of Ancient Crafts following ancient methods so an update will follow.
In the meantime we would like to thank everyone for their kind support. Without the local community this would not have been possible.
Pet owners tired of their pups and kittens tearing up soft furnishings and making messes are being offered tips to prevent damage to their home.
The money saving team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are sharing advice on how to protect household items from ruin on a budget.
Parents of naughty pets can prevent costly damage from cat scratches with spray deterrents and encourage outdoor doggy toilet trips with a loud clap.
Because pets are known for being the best company, the number of new owners has increased over lockdown, but they can make more chaos than bargained for. A few home insurance policies cover pet damage and liability, so it is worth checking details of protection with the provider.
A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “They are cute, funny, and you love them to bits. But, sometimes the furry members of the household can cause the most expensive messes.
“Regardless of if you are a new pet owner or if you have just started noticing new destructive behaviours, these tricks will help save money and protect your household items from chewing, scratching and biting.
“Animals tend to have very short memories, so they won’t connect their past naughtiness with your current yelling or other punishment, so it is best to take more of a tactical approach to prevent damage from happening ahead, saving cash in the long run.”
Tips to prevent animal damage in the home:
1. Chewing
Canines love sinking their teeth into stuff. It is a natural, but annoying habit for dog lovers. To discourage destructive chewing of remote controls, shoes and furniture, owners can make a natural deterrent spray. Dogs will not like the bitter taste of vinegar or citrus oil, but it is harmless to them and will keep them from putting things coated in it in their mouths.
Seeing as chewing is natural, pet parents should make every effort to make DIY chewable toys from old household items. Using materials like old denim, ropes and old t-shirts is a great way to make money go further and give a new lease of life to old items ready for the bin.
2. Inside toilet trips
Puddles of pee and piles of poop are never fun for pet owners. They require lots of time to deep clean and can put costly stains on carpets.
A dirty litter box is one of the first things that sends a cat elsewhere to do their business, so make sure your kitty’s is kept clean and empty.
If it is the dog who always gets caught in the act of doing their business inside the house, try and startle them slightly every time they get caught. A loud clap should stop the pup’s pee mid-stream, allowing owners to lead them outside gently and in an encouraging way.
To prevent repeat offenders, clean accidents with an enzymatic cleanser. It will destroy the odours that are likely to attract your pet back to the same spots.
3. Scratching
Couches and chairs are key targets when kitties want a scratch, but they are often the costliest items in the living area.
To prevent damage from scratching cats, special herbal sprays can be bought at a pet store. They replace the scent of a cat’s territorial “markers” with a smell that is unpleasant to them but is barely noticeable to the human nose.
If the spray doesn’t work, it might be an idea to use a double-side sticky tape strip on particularly problematic areas, as paws are extremely sensitive to touch, making sticky surfaces exceptionally annoying.
If your problematic area for scratches is around doorframes and the wooden legs, consider putting a post made of cedar in their space.
4. Tearing up
Dogs are known for suffering from separation anxiety and vets advise they shouldn’t be left for more than four hours on their own.
Sometimes it is unavoidable, but when dogs are anxious, they are notorious for tearing up anything they can get their paws on or teeth around.
The best way to prevent it is by making sure the pup is too tired to cause a mess when no one is in the house. Tire them out by walking and running before they are alone and leave engaging and interactive puzzles, to mentally stimulate and exhaust them.
5. Rule out medical problems
Sometimes, problematic behaviour from a pet can be a cry for help. It is important to rule out any potential medial issues. Dogs are known for soiling indoors as a result of incontinence problems, but also because of a change in diet, new medications, gastrointestinal upset or anxiety issues.
Cats often produce more urine and have more accidents when they are suffering from urinary tract infections or even kidney failure.
