Police in Edinburgh are appealing for the public’s help to trace a van which was stolen from the Portobello area.
The silver VW Transporter van, registration number VX66SYU, was stolen at about 11pm on Saturday 30 January 2021 while stored within a business address on Portobello Road.
The van is distinctive, with black wheel rims, tinted windows, black VW badge on front and rear, a black front grill, and a black roof box and a solar panel on roof.
Anyone who may have seen the van since it was stolen, or has information on its current whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 4425 of 30 January 2021 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was found injured in the south of the city after riding an electric scooter.
Shortly before 12.15am this morning (Wednesday, 3 February, 2021), a witness contacted emergency services after finding a man injured in the roadway on Ferniehill Road.
Officers and the Scottish Ambulance Service attended and the 40-year-old rider was taken to hospital with serious, but not life threatening, injuries.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish how he came to sustain his injuries and officers are asking anyone who may have seen the rider prior to him being found injured to contact police.
Police Constable James Lamb from Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit based in Edinburgh said: “First and foremost we are seeking to understand how the man became injured. He suffered a head injury and was found in the eastbound lane of Ferniehill Road, just off Gilmerton Road, near to the junction with Ferniehill Avenue.
“I would ask anyone in the Moredun and Gilmerton areas who may have seen a man riding an e-scooter late last night, or any properties who may have private CCTV covering the area, to check their systems to see if this can help our enquiries.
“Similarly any drivers in the area who may have seen the rider prior to him being found injured, and especially if recording with dash cam, should provide any relevant information or footage to officers as soon as possible.”
Those with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 and quote incident number 0019 of 3 February. An anonymous report can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Following a previous appeal regarding a man found injured after riding an electric scooter in the Ferniehill Road area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 3 February, Police Scotland can now confirm that a 48-year-old man has been charged in connection with a number of road traffic offences.
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Police are appealing for the help of the public following a serious assault in the East Pilton Farm area.
At around 8.25pm on Monday (1 February) a 35-year-old man was walking alone near to the junction of Pilton Drive and East Pilton Farm Place when he was approached and assaulted by a group of males.
The victim was knocked to the ground where the assault continued. He was later taken to hospital where he is being treated for a serious facial injury.
Detective Constable Zaira Marker said: “At this stage we are unsure of the motive for this appalling attack. The victim has suffered a serious injury to his face and is still in hospital. We have no further information regarding the description of his assailants, other than they were four men in their 20s and were all wearing dark coloured clothing.
“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this attack or may have information which might help the investigation to get in touch with us.
“I would also ask anyone who was driving in a vehicle in the area which has a dash-cam fitted to examine the device to see if it holds any footage which might assist in this case. Anyone wishing to pass on information can do so through 101, quoting reference number 3200 of 1 February.
“Anyone wishing to pass on any information while remaining anonymous can do so through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A 42-year-old man from the Czech Republic has today, Monday, 1 February 2021, been convicted of money laundering offences after being arrested at Glasgow Airport as part of a Police Scotland and National Crime Agency (NCA) intelligence-led investigation into the export of cash from the United Kingdom to Dubai.
On 8 November 2020, Lukas Pokorny was stopped and arrested by Border Force officers as he was about to board a flight bound for Dubai.
A search of three suitcases in his possession revealed a large quantity of cash in each – totalling over £860,000. He was unable to provide keys to unlock the luggage, or say who they belonged to or what they contained.
Officers from the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) charged Pokorny and today he pled guilty to three charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 at the High Court in Glasgow.
Pokorny claimed he was flying to the United Arab Emirate to stay with a friend and the money was to allow him to teach people to jet-ski.
Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “Targeting the movement of criminal cash and profits from organised crime groups in Scotland remains a priority.
“The arrest and conviction of Pokorny is another excellent example of the value of partnership working between Organised Crime Partnership, Border Force and National Crime Agency officers.
“I welcome his conviction and the significant amount of laundered cash that has been taken out of criminal circulation.”
NCA regional head of investigations for Scotland Gerry McLean added: “This was a significant seizure of criminal cash, the proceeds of organised crime. Taking it out in has prevented that money being invested into further criminal activity, violence and exploitation on the streets of Scotland.
“Working with partners including Police Scotland and Border Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the flow of illicit finance.”
The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is an investigation team comprising of officers and staff from Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency.
Police in Edinburgh are delighted to report that 71 year old Lorna Ferguson, reported missing earlier from Pilrig Street, Edinburgh has been TRACED SAFE AND WELL In the East Lothian area.
Police are releasing a further image of 71-year-old woman, Lorna Ferguson, missing from Bathgate this morning. The image shows Lorna near Pilrig Street.
Officers are also checking a reported sighting of Lorna in Portobello Road this afternoon.
Lorna Ferguson was last seen exiting out of Pilrig Park, Edinburgh, around 11am this morning, Saturday 30 January, 2021.
She is white, around 4 ft. 10 inches in height, with a medium build, and short silver hair. She was wearing beige coloured trousers, walking boots and a green Rab puffer jacket. She was walking her dog, a brown coloured cockapoo, with a luminous yellow, extendable lead.
Lorna has dementia and her family is extremely concerned. She has never gone missing before and they just want to know she is safe and well.
Extensive enquiries are under way to locate Lorna, but efforts so face have provide unsuccessful. Officers are checking CCTV footage for any additional information which could assist in the inquiry.
Anyone who has seen or has any knowledge as to Lorna’s whereabouts is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1733.
People across Scotland are being reminded of the need to be vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of fraudulent messages claiming to be related to the COVID-19 vaccine programme.
Scams can be circulated via text messages, phone calls and emails, as well as in person through cold callers presenting at people’s homes.
Chief Inspector Anton Stephenson, of Police Scotland’s Safer Communities Division, said: “We are asking the public to continue to be alert to potential scam messages connected with coronavirus vaccines. These include text messages, phone calls and emails.
“Messages suggest people are eligible for the coronavirus vaccine and in some cases ask for payment. People should be aware that unsolicited emails, text messages and calls may not be from the person or organisation which they appear to be from.
“The NHS, and indeed other government departments, will never ask for any form of payment for a vaccine or to confirm your identity. I would urge anyone who is concerned they may have provided personal or financial information via a link in a message of this sort to contact Police Scotland on 101.
“Similarly, if someone comes to your property claiming to be offering coronavirus vaccines for a fee, do not engage with them, close and secure your door, and call Police Scotland.
“We are working closely with partners to deter this kind of scam and make Scotland a hostile environment for scammers. We will pursue anyone who sets out to cause this kind of harm and anxiety to our communities, especially linked to a national health when people are understandably anxious as the vaccine programme is rolled out across Scotland.
“If you receive any communications relating to vaccines that you are in anyway concerned about please contact your GP who will be able to confirm your status regarding a vaccine and do not give out any personal details or payment information.”
A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of fire raising incidents in North Edinburgh.
He has been charged in connection with a number of fires in the Silverknowes area in the early hours of Wednesday, 27 January and he is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later today (Thursday, 28 January).
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a series of fires in Silverknowes and Davidson’s Mains early this morning
A number of incidents were reported to Police Scotland in the area between 4.55am and 5.55am.
These included four vehicles on Silverknowes Eastway, Silverknowes Avenue and Cramond Road South as well as within a property of Main Street, Davidson’s Mains and a post box on Silverknowes Road.
Nobody was injured in any of the incidents. Each of the fires is being treated as deliberate and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg of Edinburgh CID said: “Our enquiries into this series of incidents are ongoing and we are working to establish the full circumstances.
“We would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity to come forward as soon as possible.
“In particular we would be keen to speak to anyone with dashcam footage or private CCTV in the area.
“If you have any information which help our investigation please call 101, quoting incident 0341 of 27 January, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The precious metals used in catalytic converters means they are an attractive target for thieves. Here are some tips to help prevent catalytic converter theft:
– Park your car in a locked garage where possible, or in a well-lit and well-populated area.
– Park close to fences, walls or a kerb with the exhaust being closest to the fence, wall or kerb to make the theft more difficult.
– Avoid parking your vehicle half on the pavement and half on the road.
– If parking in a public car park, consider parking alongside other cars and facing your bonnet towards the wall if possible.
– If there is a fleet of vehicles, park the low clearance vehicles to block the high clearance vehicles.
– If your catalytic converter is bolted on, you can ask for your local garage to weld the bolts to make it more difficult to remove.
– You can also etch a serial number on the converter.
– You can even purchase a ‘cage clamp’ or ‘cat guard’ which is a cage device that locks in around the converter.
– Speak to your dealership about the possibility of adding a tilt sensor that will activate the alarm.
– Ask your manufacturer or dealer if they can give you any other advice.
– If you see someone acting suspiciously under a vehicle, report it to the Police. Obtain as much information as possible, including any vehicle registrations.
Remember: If you see anyone acting suspiciously near to your property or vehicles please contact the police immediately with as detailed a description as possible of any person(s) or vehicle(s) involved.
Please call ‘999’ if an emergency and urgent police assistance is required or 101 to report the matter to the police
