A man has been detained in connection with an armed robbery at an Edinburgh jewellers during which watches worth about £100,000 were taken.
The robbery took place at Laing the Jewellers in Frederick Street on Monday.
The man is being held after police carried out a search of a house in Chesser Grove earlier.
The man and a woman who had been detained earlier in the week in Easter Drylaw were later released without charge.
Chief Supt Mark Williams Responds to Recent Firearms Incidents in Edinburgh
Chief Supt Mark Williams, Divisional Commander for the City of Edinburgh (pictured above) said: “Over the past few days, officers across Edinburgh have been involved in investigating a number of incidents in the city involving firearms.
“These crimes are isolated and are not linked. We’ve got dedicated teams pursuing positive lines of inquiry into those we believe are involved and let me be clear, we will do all we can to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
“Edinburgh is a safe city, violent crime is continuing to fall and incidents like these are thankfully rare.
“We would appeal to anyone who has information about these incidents to come forward and speak to us in complete confidence. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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.
Shots were fired at a house in West Pilton March in the early hours of this morning. The house in West Pilton March was targeted at around 1am but no one was injured in the attack.
Police Scotland have launched an investigation. A spokesman said: “Police in north Edinburgh are investigating a report of a firearm discharge at a house in West Pilton March.”
We will update this story as more information becomes available
Last month a theft took place at an address in Afton Terrace during which the homeowner disturbed a male intruder in his house.
Following extensive enquiries police traced and interviewed a man who was subsequently charged with a number of offences including serious assault. He is due to appear at court today.
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.”
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 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.
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.”
Have your say on making Police Scotland service centres work for you
Age Scotland has been contacted recently with information about events that Police Scotland are hosting across Scotland. The purpose of these events is to engage with the community to talk about contacting the Police through their call centres. They want to know what barriers there are and how we can improve things for everyone.
The main focus of the event is for people with communication needs that prevent them having equal access – for example:
· British Sign Language users
· people who are hard of hearing
· people without speech or who have issues with their speech
· people for whom English is not their first language
· people who have a physical disability that causes issues when using the phone / email systems to contact the police
· people with learning disabilities
· people with mental health issues
(Please note these are only some examples)
The Edinburgh event will take place on Monday 2 March (see poster, below) at Norton Park from 11am – 4pm.
Sorry for the short notice on this. Please can you circulate this invite to all your contacts / service users / staff and encourage them to attend.
This is a great opportunity for them to have their say on the way they prefer to communicate with Police Scotland both in an emergency and non-emergency situation.
There are a limited number of spaces at each venue please can you encourage people to book now to ensure their space is secured.
If you have any questions about the events please contact :
Constable Stephanie Rose A462
National Safer Communities, Equality and Diversity
Scottish Crime Campus
Craignethan Drive, Gartcosh G69 8AE
01236 814710
Laura Dunkel
AGE Scotland,
Community Development Officer (Edinburgh and Lothians)
