Teen gang terrorises city estate

Published on Thursday 6 May 2010 10:08

GANGS of teenagers are terrorising a quiet city housing estate, with one street the scene of 13 attempted break-ins in a single night.

Residents of Baberton Mains say they have been subjected to vandalism, graffiti and break-ins from youths.

Some have become so fed up about the situation that they have threatened to take matters into their own hands by confronting the gang.

Along with the spate of break-ins in Baberton Mains Park, residents have had their cars and homes attacked with spray paint.

They said a path leading from Wester Hailes into the estate was the main route for trouble- makers to take and that proposals to close it off had not been followed up.

One woman who contacted the Evening News, but did not want to be identified for fear of her own safety, said: "It is such a nice, quiet place to live most of the time, or at least that's what we thought when we moved in here.

"But the past few months have been terrible and a lot of us are living in fear.

"We've called the police time and again, but they say it is hard for them to do anything.

"It's got to the stage now where we might have to take matters into our own hands, but that obviously has its own dangers.

"Last month, there were 13 homes in one street they tried to break into in one night. We feel defenceless. Every time you speak to neighbours there has been another incident."

She added that closing off the path would provide some security.

"They were supposed to shut it last year, but it's still open and that's where they all come from. They've all written their names on the walls leading up to it, so I don't see why it is so hard to track them down."

Another resident added: "We know there's a threat of this given the area we are in, but it has got really bad more recently and there's no progress in sorting it."

Residents were asked in a survey last year if they wanted the notorious path closed, but the results came out half and half, meaning police recommended that it remain open.

Pentland Hills Conservative councillor Alastair Paisley, who lives in the area, said: "It's difficult when half the people want it shut and half open.

"It was designed to allow access out to the buses for prams and wheelchairs.

"If you go back over records from the past few years you'll see that there are problems in this area. It goes in cycles – you have a lot of break-ins and vandalism and then nothing for a while.

"I will be asking the police to increase their attention in the area."

Professor Cliff Beevers, chairman of Juniper Green Community Council, which covers the area, said: "What we are trying to do is look at the area in and around Curriemuirend Park and turn it into something positive."

Police insist only one theft and one attempted break-in were recorded on the night when residents say there were 13, but were unable to comment on the wider problem in the area.