Moment 'lowest of low' burglar steals Christmas presents from family's doorstep

12 December 2023 , 07:43

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Moment 'lowest of low' burglar steals Christmas presents from family's doorstep

Footage shows a brazen thief - branded "the lowest of the low" - steal childrens' Christmas presents from a family's doorstep.

The shameless yob took packages and pink scooter, which were gifts for Jenny Collins' children, aged eight and two. Doorbell camera footage shows the man, dressed in a black jacket, grey trousers and black cap, carry the scooter away and out of shot in Granton, Edinburgh, at around 7pm on Saturday December 9.

He's first seen sleuthing around the communal stairwell before he exits with the scooter and two parcels, which were Christmas presents. It has angered mum Jenny Collins, who has shared the clip to try to trace the thief.

The thief struck on Saturday night in Edinburgh

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Jenny said: "The man entered the stair on December 9 at around 7pm, stole a child double scooter, and two packages containing Christmas presents. There was not a lot in value in them but that is not the point. This isn’t the first time that something has happened like this either. I've not told my daughter yet that her scooter was stolen but she will soon realise when she tries to take it to school. It's upsetting that someone can do this to kids. They could have just taken the parcels and left."

The disgusted mum, whose area is in the north of the Scottish capital and forms part of its attractive waterfront, added: "I wouldn't have been as bothered. I can claim them back but stealing from kids is just vile and the lowest of the low."

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The Mirror discovered, earlier this month, the five worst areas for burglaries in the run up to Christmas. Damning statistics show how over the past three years, there has been an average of 148 burglaries per 100,000 residents throughout November and December across South Yorkshire. The county therefore tops the list on areas in which residents are most vulnerable to burglaries during the festive period.

It beats Cleveland in northeast England, where there have been an average of 128 burglaries per 100,000 people in November and December for the last three years running, the shocking research shows.

Jacob Farr