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Edinburgh shoplifters target gift shop twice in one week at West End

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date19 June 2022
AuthorJacob Farr
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
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.

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...

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