A Haymarket business was targeted by brazen thieves, not once, but twice in the space of a week.
Pippin Gifts, which is owned by Erica Stahl, was the victim of a £20 theft after two women worked together to swindle the business out of items.
Two women entered the shop and were understood to be unable to speak English.
One woman distracted Erica by dramatically perusing a pair of sunglasses and blocking the shop owner's view of the second woman.
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It was at that moment that they were able to steal a couple of items.
On the incident, which occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday June 15, Erica said: “The two women came in and one of them started asking me about something.
“She did not speak English and was miming, then started making a big show of examining a pair of sunglasses, standing between me and her friend to block my view.
“I was on the phone so I was slightly distracted.
“Afterwards I realised that two items were missing and I checked the CCTV which shows one of the women taking them off the shelf and not putting them back, then leaving.
“They had the cheek to return yesterday but my staff member recognised them from the CCTV footage and alerted me straightaway.
“I came through and threw them out and told them I was calling the police.”
But this was not the first time that the independent business was targeted by thieves.
Erica says that shoplifters had also stolen three Jellycat toys on April 30 earlier this year but the eagle eyed shopkeeper was able to spot the culprits and demand her stock back.
She added: “The other incident happened on 30th April when two younger women came in and stole three Jellycat toys while I was busy serving other customers.
“Again I realised what was missing after they left.
“Once my other customers left I went outside to see if I could see the girls and they just happened to be walking back past my shop at the time!
“I confronted them and demanded my stock back and they handed it over.
“By the looks of their bags they had had quite an afternoon of it, lots of other items in there that weren’t mine.”
Erica hopes that by sharing her story, other businesses in the area can be vigilant to ensure that the same does not happen again.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm that around 12.20pm on Wednesday June 15, police received a report of a theft from a shop in Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
