Police are appealing for witnesses after thieves targeted two women during separate incidents in the north of the city last night
The first of these happened at around 6:50pm on Pilrig Street as the 30-year-old was making her way home heading in the direction of Broughton Road.
Two males walked past her before turning and attempting to snatch her handbag. However, the woman resisted prompting the suspects to run off empty handed across Pilrig Park.
One of the men is described as white, aged between 20 and 29 years old, slim/medium build, around 5ft 8ins tall with a full facial beard. He was wearing dark or navy coloured ‘Parka’ style jacket with a hood and dark trousers.
No description of the second man is available at this time.
Meanwhile, a short time later, at around 7:15pm, a 31-year-old female was walking home along Dalmeny Street heading towards St Clair Street when two unknown males approached her opposite the junction with Buchanan Street.
One of the men grabbed her handbag before pushing her to the ground resulting in the woman sustaining cuts and swelling to her hand.
The suspects were then seen running southwards along Buchanan Street towards Sloan Street with the handbag before being lost from sight.
The woman was taken to the Western General Hospital to have her injuries assessed and has since been discharged.
Both suspects are described as white, around 5ft 6ins tall and wearing dark coloured hooded tops. One of the men wore a lighter coloured top underneath the hooded top while the other had a scarf partially covering his face.
Police are carrying out various lines of inquiry in an effort to trace those responsible and are now seeking the assistance of the public.
Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson of Edinburgh CID said: “Given the similarities of these crimes and their proximity, we are keeping an open mind to the possibility that both incidents are linked.
“There will be an increase in police patrols in the community to provide a reassuring presence however I urge anyone who recognises the description or who has any information relevant to our ongoing inquiries to come forward.”
Those with information can contact police on 101 or, alternatively the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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.
