Mugger who threatened schoolboy is linked with string of incidents

Published on Tuesday 23 September 2008 10:06

A MUGGER who threatened to stab a schoolboy before robbing him of his birthday money is now being linked to a string of other incidents across the Capital.

George Watson's pupil Louis Marinello, 14, was forced to hand over his new trainers, computer kit and cash in Dundee Street, Fountainbridge, on Sunday. The robber then took his purchases back to the shops for a refund.

Now police say the schoolboy's attacker has struck several times across the city in recent days.

On each occasion the victims have been threatened with violence before being robbed.

Police have received reports of incidents around the St James Centre, Lothian Road, Fountainbridge and Stockbridge between last Monday and yesterday.

Louis had just spent the money he was given for his 14th birthday when the man threatened him and a 13-year-old friend.

The robber made off with around 160 worth of shopping, 55 in cash and a mobile phone.

Louis said their shopping trip had started at Schuh shoe shop on Frederick Street.

"I'd bought some trainers and we'd been walking down towards Dalry Road," Louis said.

"We only really noticed the guy that was following us at Maplin Electronics in Dalry Road. We went into Maplin to look at some stuff and try and lose him but he was still there across the road, so we went into Silicon Group and bought some stuff in there and we set off home.

"We thought we'd lost him but later on he came running after us, and then he told us that he had a 'big blade' in his pocket and if we didn't give him our stuff he'd stab us. I couldn't see if he had a blade or not but I wasn't going to risk it."

Louis, who lives in Ogilvie Terrace, close to the scene of the mugging, added: "I was pretty shocked by what happened."

His father Paul, 43, said: "He took 50 in cash from him and about 160 worth of goods. His friend handed over about 5 and his mobile phone. My son said he didn't have a mobile but he did, so he then called the police."

Mr Marinello, who runs the Locarno and Shandon snooker clubs, added: "The boys were obviously carrying bags with trainers and stuff in, and they're quite smartly dressed lads and it's like he's preyed on them – he watched them."

Mr Marinello yesterday contacted Schuh and Silicon Group and found out that the thief had taken the youngster's purchases back to the shops and returned them for cash.

"He must then have gone away and met up with his girlfriend, because the Silicon Group chap remembers the guy coming back in. He said he'd come in with his girlfriend and said that his little brother had been in and bought the wrong part."

The man later did the same at Schuh.

He added: "Louis is quite shaken with the incident. I was just really happy that nothing had happened to him, that was the main thing."

The attacker is described as white and in his early to mid 20s. He is 5ft 7in to 5ft 10in tall, slim to medium build and has short brown hair and a scruffy appearance.

His clothing includes blue jeans, black top or jacket and a light blue hooded top. He is also said to have an Edinburgh accent and possibly rotten teeth.

A police spokeswoman said: "These crimes have happened in busy areas during the day. We are appealing for anyone who may have seen the man described, or any one of these incidents, to contact the police."