Police raids seize £60k of stolen goods

POLICE seized nearly £60,000 worth of stolen goods in a crackdown that saw them raiding pubs, grocers and even a fishmonger across Edinburgh.

During the four-week operation, code-named Operation Airborne, detectives expanded their search from the usual car boot sales and second-hand shops to raiding a whole host of premises believed to be selling stolen goods.

Among the items recovered were 20,000 worth of computers stolen from a small business that almost folded as it struggled to replace the equipment.

Another small business was also reunited with an 8000 Bang & Olufsen television, while police are still hunting for the owner of a 1200 Ibanez Red Chameleon guitar.

Detective Inspector Matt Richards, who led the operation, said: "People have to remember the human cost of buying and selling stolen goods.

"While you may think you're getting a bargain, at the other end there's probably a small business facing hard times.

"We decided to remove the motive for thefts and housebreakings by targeting those that trade in stolen goods. If the thieves have nowhere to offload the goods, stealing them becomes less attractive."

Police also recovered copper worth 13,000, DJ and music equipment worth more than 5000 and bike parts worth more than 500.

During the operation police discovered links to serious organised crime.

DI Richards added: "We did a few operations with Trading Standards and immigration and recovered two stolen cars which were found to have a quantity of drugs inside them."

Police visited more than 60 properties across the city and 19 people have been reported to the procurator fiscal, including a 40-year-old man who is due to appear at court after allegedly being found in possession of electrical items worth an estimated 23,000.

DI Richards added: "We were really surprised by the types of businesses alleged to be selling stolen goods.

"We investigated grocers, convenience stores, pubs and even a fishmongers, although we didn't turn anything up at the fishmongers in the end.

"There is a big focus across Scotland right now to crack down on metal thefts, as thieves know that it's money for items that are relatively easy to steal.

"The message we want to put forward is that we will act on any intelligence that leads us to people dealing in stolen goods, and the range of premises we investigated in the last four weeks should act as a warning that there is nowhere to hide."