Hunt for man in full Highland dress who took Oxfam's rarest records

Jamie Morrison with some of the empty sleeves left behind

A man in full Highland dress has walked out of an Edinburgh charity shop with a box of rare LPs after paying just 3.99 for them.

Police are asking if the price label on the box was deliberately swapped at the Oxfam Music Store in Raeburn Place – or if it was just an innocent mistake.

The rare vinyl records would have fetched a total of 1,700.

At around 4pm on Monday, 28 December, a man bought what staff thought was an empty record box for 3.99.

Store manager Jamie Morrison said: "The box was full of valuable records. We kept the sleeves out on display so the records aren't worth 1,700 without the sleeves.

"But of course, we can't do anything with the covers unless we have the records so it's a big financial blow for the store.

"There were some really rare records in the box.

"The most valuable was a copy of Bobby Williams' Funky Superfly album and there were also valuable records by The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Madness." The man who bought the record box is described as being in his 30s, around 5ft 10in tall, white, with an English accent. He was wearing Scottish Highland dress, complete with kilt and Tam o'Shanter hat, and has been a customer in the store previously.

Mr Morrison said: "The volunteer who made the sale thought the customer was just buying one of the record storage boxes that we sell for 3.99.

"They made a small mistake by not checking inside the box but it has proven to be very costly. We think the 3.99 price tag was stuck on the box full of the expensive LPs and we hope some of the other customers in the store that day might remember something.

"He wasn't exactly inconspicuous so hopefully someone remembers something.

"Losing stock of that value is a nightmare so we are appealing for people to come in with donations. The money raised all goes to helping Oxfam carry out vital work all over the world."

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesperson said: "There is every chance this may have been an innocent mistake, and for that reason we are keen to trace the gentleman who bought the record box to find out if he knows where the records may be. We appeal for anyone who might have any information to come forward."