Muggers with dog and knife strike in underpass

DETECTIVES are hunting two masked raiders who robbed a man at knife-point in a city underpass and escaped with £1000 worth of electronic goods.

• The Calderview underpass, where a 22-year-old was targeted

The 22-year-old victim was held up by two teenage muggers brandishing a large kitchen knife as he walked through the tunnel between Calder Road and Calderview.

Despite escaping unscathed, police say he was left "very distressed" by the ordeal which took place at around 11pm last Thursday.

The muggers, who had a large black dog with them, fled.

The robbery is the most recent incident in the network of underpasses beneath Wester Hailes Road and Calder Road in past months.

Appealing for witnesses, Detective Constable Ross Hunter described the attack as "very serious" and urged witnesses to come forward.

He said: "From our point of view we have two teenage males around in a public area with a knife which is not acceptable.

"We have good descriptions of the culprits and also of the dog and are pursuing a positive line of enquiry using CCTV from the surrounding area."

The first of the two attackers is described as being white with a skinny build, between 15 and 20 years old and wearing a black jacket, black cap with a black scarf over his face.

The second is described as a medium-build white male, aged between 15 and 20 old and wearing a grey hooded top. Both suspects made off towards Sighthill Industrial Estate.

Police are also keen to speak to a potential witness who was walking behind the victim and spoke with the muggers before the incident took place. He is described as being Afro-Caribbean, 5ft 6ins tall with a heavy build and a shaved head.

A police spokesman said: "Thankfully the victim wasn't injured, however, he was left very distressed by the robbery and we are keen to speak with anyone who can help us locate those responsible.

"Anyone who was in the Calder Road area at the time and witnessed the incident or who recognises the description of the suspects is asked to contact police immediately.

"Similarly, the male who was seen to have spoken with the suspects prior to the robbery is asked to get in touch and assist with our enquiries."

In August, a 17-year-old girl was assaulted and robbed in the underpass at the junction of Calder Road and Wester Hailes Road.

Last Wednesday grandmother Patricia Thomson, 48, celebrated winning her battle to boost security at an underpass beneath Wester Hailes Road after she was attacked in broad daylight in February.

Last month, heroin addict Natalie Paterson, 40, was jailed for 14 months for attacking pregnant Emma Flint with a bottle at an underpass in Murrayburn Drive, Wester Hailes two years ago. The 27-year-old suffered a miscarriage in the attack as well as head injuries, cuts, bruising to her abdomen and bleeding.

Despite the crimes, DC Hunter said robbery was not a "massive problem" in the area's subterranean walkways.

"It's no worse than normal but we will keep an eye on it and do what we have to keep a lid on it."

Anyone with any information relating to Thursday's attack should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.