Police blunder sees keys handed to homeless man

POLICE chiefs have launched an investigation after a jacket belonging to a prisoner containing his car and house keys, as well as his passport, was accidentally given to a homeless man.

The 40-year-old man was arrested by police after a domestic incident at his home in Liberton, and officers took him to St Leonards police station.

But after releasing him later that day, officers found they had handed his overcoat to a homeless man who had been put in the cells for drunken behaviour.

The jacket contained the keys to a four-year-old Mercedes A150 and a number of business cards listing his home address.

Now his 31-year-old wife has been left terrified that the keys and address may be used to steal her car or break into the family house, where she stays with her two children aged five and six.

Police chiefs said they were working to help her replace the missing keys following the embarrassing mix-up last Wednesday.

But the mother-of-two said she had been left unable to sleep due to worry, while Mercedes has told her it will take until Friday at the earliest to change the vehicle's keys.

She also faces a 630 bill for changing the keys, while new locks at her home are set to cost 150.

The woman, whom the Evening News cannot name for legal reasons, said officers had told her she could lodge a compensation claim to recover the charges from the force.

She said: "On the night the keys went missing I couldn't sleep for worry. This person who got the coat had our address from the business cards and the keys to the car. I couldn't lock the house because the only set was gone. He was apparently a homeless person the police had brought in for drunkenness. What happens if he's desperate and decides to come here?

"I can't believe the police made a mistake like that. They told me the jacket has been found but everything in it has gone. The officers said this guy didn't know Edinburgh well and wasn't the type to break in, but he might have given the keys and address to someone else.

"My children start back at school today and I've not got a car to take them now. I'm planning to lodge a complaint against the police."

Her husband, who is currently staying with friends, was arrested following the dispute at the family home after his wife called the police at 12.30pm last Wednesday. It is believed that he was charged with a breach of the peace.

His wife was also taken to St Leonards police station two hours later after a complaint that she had racially abused her partner. After being charged and released, she discovered the house and car keys were in her husband's pocket.

He was released later that evening when his jacket was noticed to be missing.

The wife added: "I've never been in trouble before in my life so I was very upset at being arrested, but discovering the mistake the police had made left me hysterical."I've been left with a stiff neck from the stress of what could happen."

A police spokesman said: "Inquiries are under way to recover the lost items, and we are currently working with those involved to replace locks and vehicle keys. We have also commenced an investigation into how this incident occurred."