An Edinburgh schoolboy has been left terrified after a teenager forced him to hand over money in a sick robbery in front of his friends.
The ten-year-old was on his way to Lomond Park in the Trinity area of the capital when he was approached and threatened shortly after 5:30pm on Thursday, March 31.
The youngster bravely refused to part with his bag after the callous thief, thought to be between 16 and 18 years old, demanded the item, but was instead made to give the youth a handful of change.
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The suspect later fled the scene on Zetland Place at the junction of Stirling Road towards Trinity Road, leaving his victim “extremely upset”.
He returned home where police were contacted and an appeal has now been launched to trace the perpetrator.
The teenager is thought to be around 5'9 in height with a medium build and red hair.
He was understood to be wearing a black puffer-style jacket with the hood up, black tracksuit bottoms, black shoes and was carrying a black bag at the time of the incident.
Officers say they are particularly keen to hear from any local residents who may have captured the vile robbery on either a video doorbell or dashboard-mounted camera.
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Detective Constable Rich Paton said: “This was a nasty and horrible experience for a school child who was out with friends on the way to a park. He has been left extremely upset by the incident.
“I am asking anyone who saw what happened to get in touch, particularly if you have ring-bell or dash-cam footage. In addition if you know the suspect or anything else that could help with our enquiries then please contact us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2620 of Thursday, 31 March, or contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
