Serial mugger hunted for five attacks on youngsters in week

Published on Wednesday 24 September 2008 10:07

A SERIAL mugger who threatens to stab his young victims has struck at least five times in a week in Edinburgh.

The suspected drug addict mainly targets teenagers in the city centre and has made off with cash, mobile phones and shopping.

The Evening News told yesterday how George Watson's pupil Louis Marinello, 14, was followed as he spent his birthday money before being robbed of his purchases.

It has now emerged the same man is being hunted over a string of other robberies over the past week.

He is suspected to have struck four times close to the city centre between Friday and Monday, and is also thought to be behind a robbery in Bread Street Lane last Monday.

In the most recent incident, he followed two 18-year-olds on to a number 29 Lothian Buses service to Stockbridge at around 5pm. They got off the bus after one stop to try and evade him.

One of the victims, who did not want to be named, told the Evening News: "When the bus passed us in the street we thought he was still on it, so we turned back round to get another bus, but when we turned round he was right behind us. He told us to be quiet and told us not to run or shout, because he'd stab us.

"He just lifted up his top and showed he had a knife. I didn't see the blade, just the handle.

"I just started to get scared and started to shake. Then he took us down an alleyway and told us to empty our pockets and give him all the stuff we'd got. He told us he'd search us so we'd need to give him everything."

He handed over 100 in cash, his phone, passport and wallet, while his friend surrendered 15 and his phone. The robber then marched them to the Bank of Scotland close to Dean Bridge and forced them to withdraw a total of 320 from their bank accounts before taking them back to the alleyway and running off.

The Evening News told yesterday how Louis had been spending his birthday money with a friend when the robber followed them to Dundee Terrace in Fountainbridge and threatened to stab them if they didn't hand over 160 worth of shopping, 55 in cash and their mobile phones.

The victims range in age from their teens to their early 20s, though it is not thought the robber always follows his targets.

Dc Susan Balfour, who is leading the hunt, said many victims had given a similar description of the man, who is said to have a "drug-taker's appearance".

She added: "There have been so many incidents in a short space of time, it is a concern that he'll strike again, but we hope that's not going to be the case and that we'll get him identified and caught.

"It's important to mention that it's threats that he's got a knife – nobody's seen the blade of a knife yet, but the majority of victims have been very shaken up."

Officers are scouring CCTV for images of the man, and are also looking for fingerprints on items including victims' bank cards and the trainers stolen from Louis Marinello, which were later returned to the shop and exchanged for cash.

The man has been described as white, early to mid 20s, 5ft 7in to 5ft 10in, slim to medium build, with short brown hair and of 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.