Tag: lothian and borders police

Witnesses sought following Pilton attempted robbery

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery in Pilton around 9pm last night.

A 19-year-old man alighted a bus on Crewe Road North and turned onto Pilton Avenue as he walked home. After passing the entrance to Crewe Place, a male approached and engaged him in conversation before demanding his bag. The man refused and the suspect swung a punch, which was blocked before the victim ran off and contacted police.

Officers are now keen to speak with anyone who can assist with their enquiries. The suspect is described as white, 20-25 years old, 6ft tall with a medium build and short blond hair. He was wearing a red and white checked shirt, khaki-coloured trousers and spoke with a local accent. It is believed he was also under the influence of alcohol at the time.

A police spokesman said: “Fortunately the young man was not injured as a result of this attempted robbery, nevertheless, it was an unpleasant experience that left him quite shaken. We believe there were a number of motorists who would have driven past as this incident was happening and they are asked to come forward if they remember seeing anything suspicious.
Similarly, anyone who can help identify the suspect is also asked to contact police immediately.”

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

Police seek help over flooded flats

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after properties within a block of flats were flooded.  The incident happened between 8pm and 8.30pm last night in West Pilton’s Northview Court.  The main water pipe for the building was accessed and then ruptured, causing the landing of the eighth floor and some of the flats below to flood.
Police attended the incident and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service were contacted to turn off the water.  Anyone with information that can assist officers with their enquiries is now asked to come forward.
A police spokesman said: “This mindless act of destruction has caused significant water damage to the properties below the eighth floor and we are eager to hear from any residents or witnesses who can help us identify those responsible.  Anyone who saw any suspicious activity in or around Northview Court yesterday evening is asked to contact police immediately.”
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Cycling RULES!

Register it

UV mark it

Lock it

Electronically tag it

Secure it

Cycle theft is a real pain, so Lothian and Borders Police are offering cyclists the opportunity to make things tougher for thieves at two sessions this month.  You can get your bike registered and UV marked for £5, or registered, UV marked and electronically tagged for £16 at West End Police Station on 14 February from 12 – 2pm, or at Gayfield Police Station from 12 – 2pm on 23 February.  A limited number of bikes will be registered and marked for free, so arrive early to avoid missing out!

Police investigate infants death

Police are continuing to investigate the death of a six week old infant who died at a flat in Ferry Road Avenue in November . Police were called to the flat on Wednesday 23rd November by the Scottish Ambulance Service following the discovery of the infant.

Police are still investigating infants death.

A police spokesman said “Enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of the death of a six-week-old infant within an address in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, November 23.  A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”

Teenager faces trial over rape and murder of OAP

A TEENAGER accused of murdering a 63-year-old  woman during a sex attack in Drylaw is to stand trial.

Jay Soso admits having sex with the pensioner.

 

Marie Reid’s body was found at her home in Easter Drylaw Way, on November 15 2010.

Jay Soso, of Home Street, Tollcross, admits having sex with the pensioner but denies rape and murder.

After a brief hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, judge Lord Turnbull allowed Soso, 19, to remain on bail until his trial in Glasgow on May 29.

Soso is accused of raping Marie Reid and committing other sex acts before inflicting injuries “by means unknown” which led to her death.

He also denies cleaning up in the house in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Other charges, which Soso also denies, allege that he stole a bank card and pre-pay television box, stole cash from ATMs and had cannabis and amphetamine in his possession.

75 year old woman mugged in Drylaw

A seventy-five year old woman has been mugged at the entrance to Ferryhill Primary School on Groathill Road North. The incident happened at about 6pm on Sunday night.

Police cordon off the area around the entrance to Ferryhill primary School. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

A Police spokseperson said “A seventy-five year old female had her handbag snatched from her with such force it caused her to fall to the ground. As a result of this fall the elderly lady has sustained serious injuries which have resulted in her having to be admitted to Hospital.

Officers of Lothian and Borders Police are appealing to the public to help them identify the male responsible who is described as being in his early twenties, six feet tall with a skinny build, wearing dark clothing and a cream coloured hat.”

Officers were at the scene until about 10.30pm and carried out a thorough search of the area.

A Police search team search the area where the woman was mugged. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Police on 311-3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Thieves want to ride your bicycle so keep it locked up

POLICE have warned residents who received bikes as Christmas presents to invest in good-quality locks to help deter thieves.

Local Police often patrol the cycle paths on bikes. (Picture: Michael Lindsay)

 

Professional gangs are cashing in on the city’s cycling boom, taking bikes from streets, common stairways and sheds.

Pc Janie Harman said: “I would encourage bicycle owners to think about security and to use strong D-locks, never leave their bicycle unattended without securing it and to park in well-lit areas covered by CCTV, if possible.

“I would also ask people to take a few minutes to register their bicycle details on a national register at www.immobilise.com.”

The number of bikes reported stolen in Edinburgh fell four per cent between April 2010 and last March compared with the previous year, from 1706 to 1635.

Last month, figures revealed that only one in ten bikes stolen by thieves in Lothian and Borders is recovered.

Between 2008 and 2010, 6047 bikes were reported as stolen in the area with just 627 being recovered.


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.

Festive Drink Drive Crackdown

Lothian and Borders Police have arrested 14 drink drivers in West Lothian in the first two weeks of the ACPOS Festive Drink Drive campaign.

This year the vehicle forfeiture scheme has been extended to include those who are more than three times the drink drive limit, and those who refuse to provide a sample at police stations. Of the 14 incidents, nine fit the forfeiture criteria.

Last Monday (December 12) a 55-year-old woman was involved in a crash in Livingston, and admitted drink driving in court the next day, so a warrant was issued for the seizure of her vehicle.  In the early hours of Sunday morning (December 18) a driver was found asleep in his vehicle in Bathgate and was charged with alleged drink driving. He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (December 19).

Inspector Simon Bradshaw, Livingston Road Policing Branch said: “It is disappointing that a small minority of drivers still choose to put their own and others lives at risk, by driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.  We will continue to do our utmost to detect and arrest drink drivers and bring them before the court and drive the message home that drink driving will not be tolerated.

“As we have already seen during this campaign, where appropriate, drink drivers’ vehicles will be forfeited by the court, thereby removing them from the road. I would urge all drivers to think of the potential consequences and not to get behind the wheel whilst under influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Anyone who suspects that a person may be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can contact the police on 0131 3113131 or by dialing 999 in urgent cases. Alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 where the information will be treated in confidence of anonymity.”

Lothian and Borders Police