Police appeal following local bogus caller incidents

Police are continuing enquiries and appealing for information following several bogus caller incidents in North West Edinburgh in the last few days:

1. Around 3.45 pm on Tuesday, 30 June, two men called at an elderly woman’s home in Easter Drylaw Drive. The woman paid a three figure sum for landscaping work to be carried out however the men left in a car and did not return. .

2. Around 11.30 am on Wednesday, 1 July, two men called at a house in Cramond Park stating they were there to carry out work. It was established it wasn’t prearranged work and they were asked to leave. They were driving a white van.

3. Around 1.15 pm on Thursday, 2 July, a man called at an address in Craigs Avenue offering to carry out gardening and landscaping work. The man wanted to carry out the work immediately for cash and left when the occupier refused.

Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg at Corstorphine CID said: “This type of crime is despicable and is often targeted at the elderly and vulnerable in our communities. At this time we are trying to establish whether any of these incidents are linked.

“I urge members of the public to be on guard if someone turns up unexpectedly at their home offering to carry out work, especially work that they don’t believe is required.

“Ask for identification and/or a business card so that you can make the necessary checks for verification, 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.”

Anyone who has any information relating to the above incidents or anyone who has concerns or feels that they have been a victim of a bogus crime or scam caller should contact police via telephone number 101.

Jewellery robbery: Drylaw pair in custody

Police at Drylaw Shops

A man and a woman are being held in connection with an armed robbery at an Edinburgh jewellers yesterday. Police Scotland said a 27-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman have been detained.

An investigation was launched after a man robbed Laing the jewellers in Frederick Street at gunpoint and took watches to the value of £100,000. The robber subsequently hijacked a private hire car and was last seen in Pilton Drive North.

The couple were detained in North Edinburgh this afternoon following the search of a property in Easter Drylaw.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police in Edinburgh attended an address in Easter Drylaw earlier today (Tuesday) as part of their investigation into an armed robbery and investigations are ongoing.”

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or through Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111.

EDRA to dish the dirt at AGM

ponyDisgusting, isn’t it? Dog dirt was a common theme of Easter Drylaw Residents Association (EDRA) meetings over the last year, and the topic is sure to figure prominently once again when the residents’ group hold their annual general meeting next week.

EDRA joined with Drylaw Telford Community Council to highlight the issue of irresponsible dog owners in their major campaign of the year. EDRA also continued to raise awareness of speeding motorists on the area’s residential roads with their ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ initiative.

To find out more about what EDRA has been doing, their plans for the year ahead and how you can get involved why not go along to their AGM?

EDRA’s annual general meeting will be held on

Monday 18 November at 7pm

in Drylaw Parish Church, Groathill Road North

All welcome

Work has started on fencing at the foot of Easter Drylaw Bank to prevent the grass area being used as a dog’s toilet. EDRA supported an application for funding from Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership’s Neighbourhood Environment Programme (NEP) to allow the project to go ahead.