Police are appealing for witnesses after two teenage women were threatened with a knife during separate incidents in the Wester Hailes area on Saturday evening.
The first incident happened at around 7.30pm as a 17-year-old woman was walking on a pathway that runs adjacent to Hailesland Road from Dumbryden Grove. A man approached her and demanded her rucksack, threatening her with a knife. She called out and the suspect ran off. The suspect stole her black Superdry rucksack which had a pink and purple pattern on. The victim noticed two people close by at the time of the incident who may have seen what happened. One was on a scooter and another walking.
A second incident happened at around 8.05pm as a second 17-year-old woman got off a bus on Hailesland Road and walked on the same footpath. The suspect pushed the teenager, threatened her with a knife, and stole a shopping bag she was carrying which contained food items.
Officers are treating the incidents as linked.
The suspect is described as being white with dark features, aged between 15 and mid-twenties, between 5ft 7ins and 5ft 9ins tall and of slim build. He was wearing a black body-warmer style jacket which had a white logo on the left side, black jogging bottoms, a black beanie hat, black trainers and a black face mask. He spoke with a local accent.
Detective Constable Mike Brown, of Corstorphine Police Station, said: “In both instances this man threatened the teenagers with a knife, in close proximity to each other and only half an hour apart. We believe it was the same man.
“We’d ask anyone who recognises the suspect description, or was one of the two people who could have seen the first incident around 7.30pm, to get in contact with officers. Equally anyone around Wester Hailes on Saturday evening who saw this man should report this to police.
“We are reviewing CCTV footage from the bus and nearby premises, and would ask anyone who can help with this investigation to come forward. Both victims were shaken by their ordeals and sustained minor injuries during struggles with the suspect. We need to catch the person responsible as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, and quote incident number 3996 of 24 April. An anonymous report can be made to Crimestoppers 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.
