How police are using Lego to help fight crime

A bizarre new use has been found for Lego – helping Capital police fight crime.
Lego is helping Edinburgh police. Picture: CompLego is helping Edinburgh police. Picture: Comp
Lego is helping Edinburgh police. Picture: Comp

Police Scotland has put together a series of quirky scenes with Lego figures to spread the word about the importance of securing your home.

The tableaux – featuring Lego men dressed as robbers and police officers – are accompanied by fun poems to highlight security tips.

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Among the poems are: “Staying in or goin oot? Lock the windaes ‘n’ front door. A simple step maybe, That’ll prevent access tae them on the chore.”

Police hope the campaign will help crack crime.Police hope the campaign will help crack crime.
Police hope the campaign will help crack crime.

The tongue-in-cheek posts are among a series of tactics being used by police as part of targeted housebreaking drive Operation RAC.

The pictures were posted just days after police vowed to stamp out a group of 40 criminals suspected of fuelling the city’s housebreaking problem.

Operation RAC was resurrected after it emerged the number of cases involving thieves stealing car keys from homes and fleeing in stolen ­vehicles has doubled in just three months.

Superintendent Matt Richards has enlisted officers from elsewhere in the national force and secured fast-track forensic work to help streamline investigations.

Officers are calling on householders to be vigilant by installing alarms and keeping car keys hidden to avoid falling foul of thieves.

A Police Scotland spokesman said Lego was used as it is a “universally recognisable” item which connects with the public.

He added: “Social media is an important tool for communicating with the public and allows us to provide vital information on crime prevention and advice on keeping safe.”

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Officers will host a home security event in the south of the Capital later this month as part of the ongoing operation.

The seminar at Mayfield Salisbury Church in East Mayfield will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 7pm-9pm. Members of the public are invited to attend for free to receive guidance on safeguarding their properties.

Sergeant Andy Kerr, from the South Community Policing Team, said: “We are committed to ensuring the public have all the necessary information to keep themselves and their homes safe. The home security seminar in East Mayfield will allow residents the opportunity to speak with police about the range of measures that can be taken to prevent their properties being targeted.”

For more top crime prevention tips, “like” the Edinburgh Division Facebook page and follow @EdinburghPolice Twitter account.

OP RAC SUCCESS

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a string of break-ins in the west of Edinburgh as part of Operation RAC.

Since relaunching the campaign last week, officers have been pursuing various lines of inquiry.

During routine investigations, a 19-year-old man was detained for a warrant offence and was subsequently questioned by Operation RAC officers about several thefts.

He was later charged with breaking into two houses and will be subject to reports relating to another six addresses in Allan Park, Colinton Road and Slateford over the past few months.

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He was further charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act for alleged possession of cannabis.

Chief Inspector Stevie Dolan, local area commander for West Edinburgh, said: “Housebreaking has been identified as a policing priority for our local communities.”