Grange gripped by anxiety after spate of crimes

RESIDENTS today spoke of their fears following a surge in crime in The Grange in the wake of a murder, two muggings of elderly women, and a spate of housebreakings and car thefts.

Police mounted extra patrols in the area over the weekend following the alleged daylight attacks on the pensioners in their 80s.

Residents have also described a string of incidents where thieves have sneaked into homes in The Grange, one of Edinburgh's most affluent neighbourhoods, to steal car keys before making off with expensive vehicles.

In another recent incident, an elderly woman living in St Alban's Road answered the door to a man and a boy aged around ten. The youngster barged past her, ran into the house and stole her purse before the pair fled.

The community is still coming to terms with the murder of Stewart Taylor, 33, who was found with head injuries by firefighters called to a blaze at a flat in Chalmers Crescent on February 7. Frank Moore, 43, of Dalkeith, was charged with Mr Taylor's murder, and the attempted murder of Lynsey Methven, 30, who was also found injured in the home.

Sue Tritton, secretary of The Grange Association, said: "It's a nasty business. We didn't used to have to worry about locking our doors when we were in our own homes.

"I know there have been thieves going into people's homes and getting their keys from hall tables and jackets hung up close to the front door, then making off with their cars.

Among the other incidents reported in the area was a break-in to a family's house in Mansionhouse Road in January where thieves took keys and stole two cars and a motorbike. The daughter of the house, who was at home ill, believes she heard the intruders creep into the property.

Two attempted break-ins were carried out at homes in Dick Place while another property was targeted by thieves who "hooked" keys from its porch through a letter box and stole two cars, all on the same night.

In another attempted break-in on Mansionhouse Road, a teenager returning from a night out found the burglar alarm of his parent's house going off as four men, one armed with a pick axe, fled from its front garden.

There is no suggestion these incidents are linked to the muggings.

* A 45-year-old man has been charged in connection with two alleged muggings in the area.

The first took place in Findhorn Place on March 12, and the second in Mansionhouse Road on March 15.

The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.