Yobs have been caught trying to steal knives from Scots shops sparking fear and alarm amongst traders. Youths have been targeting shops in the Marchmont area of Edinburgh.
The young males have been caught on CCTV trying to help themselves to sharp kitchen blades, with one offender caught trying to hide the items “up his jacket.”
Kayleigh Gordon, who is a co-partner at Marchmont Hardware & Hill Lord Co Pet Supplies, is begging for action to be taken after admitting that workers feel unsafe and their livelihoods have been put under threat.
The 22-year-old said: “The two chaps appeared and were looking in the shop, one stayed outside and one came in, Edinburgh Live reports.
“He got only as far as two metres into the shop before he began looking at our high-end range of knives and cookware.
“I was down doing a window display and was keeping an eye because he looked too young to buy knives, so I’d have to ID him. He tried to put a set of three kitchen knives up his jacket.
“I intervened and said ‘can I have those knives please’ and he gave me them and walked out. My mum went after them and confronted them, but the chap was very honest and regretful that he tried to steal from us.
“The other chap looked shocked that he was caught and confronted.”
CCTV clips show how one youth can be seen looking into the store whilst another enters prior to the alleged attempted shoplifting incident.
Kayleigh described the youths as being between the ages of 16 to 20-years-old.
She added they are both tall, but one has strawberry blonde hair and another wears black scarf on his head – both are regularly seen with tracksuits and trainers on.
Kayleigh hopes to raise awareness of the anti-social behaviour in the area and hopes local actors can come together to support one another in tackling the issue.
“These particular youths are in the area one to two times a week,” she added. “We have seen them trying to steal bikes and stealing from other local businesses.
“They are targeting this area and we’re sick of it. We are having to up our security and be more proactive about what stock we display.
“We are all small independent businesses and we rely on our stock so we can sell it to pay bills and try to make a living, we can’t do this if people continue to steal.
“Our businesses are our lives, we spend more time at work than we do at home. We don’t want to be made to feel unsafe.”
Police Scotland has been approached for comment.
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