Two teenage girls have been threatened at knifepoint and robbed in two related incidents in Wester Hailes which occurred on Saturday, 24 April, 2021.
At around 7.30pm the first 17-year-old victim was walking along a pathway between Hailesland Road from Dumbryden Grove, when a male approached her and threatened her with a knife.
The suspect demanded she handed over her rucksack and after the teenager called out for help he ran off with her black Superdry rucksack which had a pink and purple pattern on.
The second robbery happened at around 8.05pm when another 17-year-old woman got off a bus on Hailesland Road and walked on the same footpath.
The male shoved 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 and are hoping to speak to two people close by at the time of the first incident who may have seen what happened. One was on a scooter and another walking.
Police describe the suspect 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 dressed in 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 and spoke with a local Edinburgh 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.
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“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.
