Police launch national campaign to target housebreaking

Police Scotland has today launched a national campaign to tackle housebreaking across the country. Operation RAC will be implemented in various areas throughout Scotland to identify those responsible for break-ins and thefts and bring them to justice.

Since 1 April Police Scotland has provided dedicated resources to communities to tackle crimes of violence, sexual assaults and domestic abuse and as a result, greater numbers of these offences are being reported and solved. During this time, the Force has observed an overall increase of around 4% in housebreaking, with a number of areas reporting greater levels of crime than the national average.

As part of Police Scotland’s commitment to community engagement, housebreaking has been identified as a local priority for certain regions and these divisions will now be provided with additional resources and support to address the issue.

The operation will initially run within Edinburgh, Forth Valley, the Lothians and Scottish Borders, Fife, Highlands and Islands, Aberdeenshire and Moray, Aberdeen city and Lanarkshire. In each location, dedicated policing teams have been created to exclusively investigate housebreakings within homes, outbuildings and businesses and apprehend the individuals responsible.

Housebreaking offences will continue to be monitored throughout Scotland and extra support can be provided to any area requiring a more robust response to tackle this issue.

Throughout Operation RAC, Police Scotland will work closely with partners at COPFS to ensure housebreakers are being appropriately dealt with and removed from communities where possible.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson said: “Police Scotland remains committed to keeping people safe and I am delighted with the professionalism and dedication our officers have shown as part of our continued focus towards violence reduction.

“We recently launched our local policing campaign, which provides us with the opportunity to speak with individual communities and identify the issues or concerns specifically affecting their area. As a result, housebreaking has been highlighted as a priority for a number of our divisions and officers in these areas will be taking targeted action to detect anyone involved and deter further offences from occurring.

“We are keen to work not only with our partner agencies, but with our communities to address the issue of housebreaking and crime prevention advice for safeguarding your home, shed, outbuildings and businesses can be found on our website – www.scotland.police.uk

“I say this message directly to those intent on committing housebreakings in Scotland – if you engage in this invasive and distressing form of crime, we will use every resource at our disposal to remove you from our communities and ensure you spend time behind bars.”

Bogus workmen alert

Police in North Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following two bogus caller incidents in the area this week.

An 84-year-old woman was within her home on Bellevue Road on Monday (9 December) at around 10am when two men called at the door offering to carry out maintenance on the property.

After agreeing a fee with the occupants, one of the men left to get equipment while the other man followed the lady into her back garden to retrieve an item.

On going back into the house the victim stopped to lock the backdoor while the man went out into the front. She realised at that time that her purse had been stolen and both men had disappeared.

Both men are described as white, Scottish, with a local accent, around 50 years old, with an average build and 6ft tall. One of the men had a full beard.

In the second incident, an 85-year-old woman was at her home in Davidson Mains on Tuesday (10 December) at around 3.30pm when a man arrived at her door asking if she needed any gardening done. When she refused, the suspect asked if he could come in while waiting for someone. She agreed and whilst in the kitchen area the suspect is believed to have taken her handbag and gone back outside.

The suspect is described as having a tanned complexion, aged late 20’s to early 30’s, possibly sporting a moustache or facial stubble and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a dark winter hat, dark jacket and dark trousers.

Detective Inspector Stuart Harkness from Police Scotland said: “The elderly occupants have been left very upset after having their belongings stolen from within their house. Anyone who remembers seeing anything suspicious in the Belleview or Davidson Mains area of the city is asked to contact police immediately.

“Bogus workmen normally prey on the most vulnerable members of the community, particular the elderly and our communities are asked to be vigilant for people calling at the doors of neighbours, friends and loved ones.

“Similarly, all members of the public are advised to check the identification of anyone attending at their address seeking to carry out work. If they are not happy with the callers they should refuse them entry and phone the police”.

Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland 101, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Pensioner attacked and robbed in Salvesen

An elderly woman has been assaulted and robbed in her Salevsen home.

Police said the woman was attacked at about midday yesterday (Friday). They said she was not seriously injured.

Polce believe her attacker, a man in his 20s, may have been carrying out gardening work in the area.

He is described as white, with dark hair and of slim build. He was wearing a white, patterned top, and is believed to speak with an Irish accent.

A police spokesman said: “Fortunately the woman was not seriously injured, but this has been a terrible experience for her nonetheless. We are appealing to anyone who may have information regarding this male to get in touch.

“In particular, we would be keen to talk to any person who may have been approached by this male regarding carrying out work in their garden.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Fresh appeal for missing student

Police Scotland Edinburgh Division is appealing for information in tracing a Russian student who has been missing from her address in the capital for over a week.

Yulia Solodyankina, (22), who has been studying Physics at Edinburgh University, was last seen at the Wee Red Bar in Lady Lawson Street on June 7 and was first reported missing last Wednesday (12 June).

Since her disappearance police have been carrying out extensive enquiries in order to trace her whereabouts, and continue to urge anyone with information to contact them. Her friends have also organised a social media campaign to track her down.

Yulia speaks fluent English with a strong Russian accent, and is described as being of medium build, with long dark brown hair. She is about 5ft 6ins tall, and has a small mole on her left cheek. Her ears are pierced and she wears a number of rings on her fingers, in particular a distinctive thumb ring, which is shaped like a small spoon.

When last seen Yulia was wearing a dark jacket, dark trousers, white trainers and carrying a large dark coloured rucksack which appeared to be full.

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson, of Police Scotland Edinburgh Division, said: “It has been a week since Yulia was first reported missing, and despite our enquiries and appeals for information from the public, we still have no information as to her current whereabouts.

“Yulia’s father had travelled to Edinburgh to visit his daughter and help plan her graduation celebrations, but instead he is distraught by her disappearance, and has left the Capital without ever making contact with her.

“We have been heartened by the level of interest in her disappearance, helped by her friends organising their own appeals through social media, and we remain keen for any information that can help us trace her whereabouts.

“I would urge anyone who has seen or heard from Yulia since she went missing, or who has any other information that can help us, to contact Police Scotland on 101, or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police drop-in sessions at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Local community Police Constables Sarah Hall and Tony Lawrence will be at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre from 7 – 8pm next Thursday (6 June).

Other police drop-in dates for Royston Wardieburn are:

Thursday 6th June
Thursday 4th July
Thursday 1st August
Thursday 29th August
Thursday 24th October
Thursday 21st November

City hails success of crime crackdown

Police in Edinburgh have hailed the success of an operation targeting drug dealers and serious and organised criminals in the Capital. Operation Amend has resulted in the arrests of 25 people, along with the seizure of around £300,000 worth of drugs and almost £250,000 in cash.

The seizures included quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, as well as a cannabis cultivation. Over £200,000 in cash was recovered from one address in Musselburgh alone.

Police Scotland’s Detective Superintendent Gareth Blair said: “There is no doubt that Operation Amend has struck a serious blow against drug dealers and serious and organised criminals operating in Edinburgh. We have arrested and charged a number of individuals with alleged drugs offences, and removed a significant quantity of drugs from the streets of the Capital.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe, and we will relentlessly pursue all those who we suspect of involvement in drug dealing and serious and organised crime. At the same time we will continue to work closely with our community partners in order to make our communities safer and secure.

“We would ask the public to play their part by providing us with information on drug dealers and serious and organised criminals operating in their community. Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or make an anonymous report though Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “While honest, hard-working members of the public struggle in these challenging financial times, it is galling and distressing to see drug dealers and those involved in serious organised crime flouting their ill-gotten wealth.

“It is thanks to vital information supplied by the public and the hard work of police that serious and organised criminals across Scotland are being identified and brought to justice. Ultimately, it shows that the combined efforts of communities, police, and enforcement agencies all contributes to making Scotland a safer and stronger place to live.”

Councillor Cammy Day, Community Safety Leader, said: “I am very pleased that Operation Amend has been such a success and believe this demonstrates how strengthening community links with the police can make our neighbourhoods safer. It sends a clear signal that drug-related crime will not be tolerated and I would like to thank all members of the community for their support of this very worthwhile initiative.”

Professor Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said: “We continue to work closely with Police Scotland, health services and other agencies throughout Lothian by providing a broad range of services to help and support individuals to address the causes and consequences of problematic drug use.”

Cumberland Street victim identified

A man who died after being found unconscious in a lane off Cumberland Street has been identified. Lee Hayburn, who was 28 and of no fixed abode, was discovered at around 5am last Friday. He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died a short time later.

Police Scotland are treating Mr Hayburn’s death as unexplained and are investigations are ongoing. Members of the public with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Mr Hayburn was discovered close to The Cumberland Bar

Man found in New Town street dies

A man has died in Hospital after being found unconscious in Cumberland Street this morning.

The area is currently closed off and police forensic teams are working to establish the cause of death.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said a Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police were called to Cumberland Street around 5am today, after a man was discovered unconscious in the street.

“The man, who is believed to be in his thirties, was taken by ambulance to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he passed away.

“Enquiries are at a very early stage, and the man’s death is being treated as unexplained. Cumberland Street has been closed off to traffic to allow enquiries to take place at the scene.”

Community police take to the Twittersphere

Police in North Edinburgh are to use Twitter to update residents and link in with local groups and organisations.

Inspector Mark Rennie of Drylaw Police Station said “As from 1 April the Community Policing Teams at Drylaw and Leith Police Stations will be posting ‘tweets’ to highlight activity in the area and provide details of their work. It’s an important development for us as we can reach a fairly large audience quickly, get information out to young people in a way they appreciate, and also provide clear and instantaneous information about ongoing incidents in the area”.

For local police updates on Twitter: follow @EdinburghNorthPolice

DRYLAW POLICE STATION - stable block? — DRYLAW POLICE STATION

Man dies after Inverleith flat fall

A MAN has died after falling from a window near Inverleith Row.

The incident happened shortly after 2pm – it is understood the man fell from a back window into a rear yard. Emergency services are still on the scene.

A police spokesman said: “Police in Edinburgh responded to an address in Inverleith Row at around 2.10pm after a man in his 30s was found injured.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service were also in attendance and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”