A further six men have been charged with housebreaking offences in Edinburgh as Operation RAC continues to tackle acquisitive crime within the Capital.
On 19th March this year a break-in took place in Churchhill Way, Kirknewton during which time a Range Rover and Audi A4 were stolen.
The Range Rover was subsequently used in a series of incidents at business premises in Edinburgh before being found burnt out on the railway line at Newcraighall.
The stolen A4 was then utilised in a spate of housebreakings within East Lothian on 26th March and was found within a field near Aberlady.
As a result of Operation RAC enquiries two men aged 25 and 24 have been reported for six break-ins in Bankhead Crossway South, Spylaw Street, Oxgangs Road North, South Clerk Street, Newington Road and Royal Park Place, as well as the original offence in Kirknewton.
In addition, the pair were also charged with two attempted housebreakings in Mortonhall Gate and Royal Park Place.
Sometime between 2.15pm and 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th May a home in Clekiminfield was broken into and various goods were stolen from inside.
Operation RAC officers carried out their investigation before executing a stolen property warrant in Niddrie Marischal Green on Tuesday 12th May where various pieces of evidence were recovered.
An 18-year-old man was subsequently charged with this incident.
On Monday 11th May officers from the Search and Recovery Team met with the homeowners of an address in Shandon Crescent whose home had been broken into while they were on holiday in April.
The officers had recovered various items of stolen property during a search of a home in Piershill Square East on 29th April and believed the goods were linked to the break-in at Shandon Crescent.
Once the occupants confirmed ownership of the property a 39-year-old man was reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
A fifth male was then arrested following a housebreaking in Bonaly Crescent, which occurred between the 4th and 12th April.
During this incident, two cars and a van were stolen. The van was later recovered and contained within it a motorcycle, which has not been taken from the home in Bonaly Crescent.
Further enquiry linked the bike to an address in Penicuik and it was established this was due to be sold on Gumtree.
A 15-year-old was subsequently linked to this offence and was arrested at which time he was interviewed in connection with a number of other crimes.
He was then charged with the 10 thefts of vehicles from addresses in Craighouse Avenue, Penicuik, Bonaly Crescent, Kirkliston and Bryce Road.
The male was also charged with break-ins to a home and car in Oxgangs Green and an attempted housebreaking in Coltbridge Terrace.
On Wednesday 13th May SART officers were contacted by a second hand retail store on Great Junction Street after a male attended and attempted to sell-on various items of property, which were believed stolen.
Officers from the SART attended and detained the man and questioned him in connection with two housebreakings in Craighall Crescent and Crammond Green as well as an attempted break-in at Elliot Road.
The 30-year-old was then charged in connection with all of these incidents, which happened between Friday 17th April and Tuesday 21st April.
Superintendent Matt Richards said: “Our operation RAC enforcement activity has resulted in another six individuals being charged with 23 housebreakings and associated offences.
“In addition various items of stolen property has been recovered and reunited with its rightful owners.
“We continue to target acquisitive crime offenders and through Operation RAC will bring these individuals to justice and remove them from our communities.
“The public can play a vital role in helping us prevent housebreaking by taking appropriate security measures at their homes and businesses.
“Anyone looking for more information on crime prevention can contact us on 101 or visit our website at www.scotland.police.uk.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
