Thieves target Queen’s jubilee street party

THIEVES targeted two of Scotland’s richest streets while patriotic locals celebrated the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

Residents of the Grange area of Edinburgh spent weeks organising the celebratory street party, successfully applying to the local council to have the upmarket streets closed to traffic.

But while the Monarch’s 60 years on the throne were being toasted under the bunting in Tantallon Place and Cumin Place, it seems less loyal citizens were taking advantage.

At least five properties were the subject of alleged break-ins and attempted break-ins.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said she was “sad” that the street’s community spirit had been taken advantage of.

She said: “The party was meant to be a nice way of getting everybody together on the street.

“It’s sad because we applied to the council for permission and the road was closed off to traffic. It was an official street party – perhaps that’s why they decided to strike.”

Local resident Lis Brady (64), added: “There was at least three attempted burglaries on Tantallon Place and another two on Cumin Place just up the road.

“People were mingling with each other and there was an open door policy as the bad weather meant much of the party was inside.

“The thieves probably took advantage of the fact that everyone was visiting each other’s houses.”

It emerged earlier this month that a spate of break-ins in the Grange – home to former RBS boss Fred Goodwin – had led police to advise locals to take their car keys to bed with them.

Criminals, finding themselves unable to defeat sophisticated new car alarm systems, are breaking in to homes to get their hands on keys.

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed that two people had been charged in connection with alleged break-ins and attempted break-ins in Tantallon Place and Cumin Place on the day of the jubilee party.

 

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