NEWS: What would Princes Fiona say?

Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
February 3, 2009

A ROBBERY victim has returned to work after being threatened at knifepoint by a robber dressed in a Shrek mask.

The Scotmid worker, who has not been named, has refused an offer of time off after the masked robber brandished a knife and made off with around GBP 400 in cash and 200 cigarettes.

Malcolm Brown, head of corporate communications for Scotmid's 130 convenience stores throughout Scotland, said the shopworker was recovering from his ordeal and the company had handed over CCTV to the police.

He said: "Our first concern is for the safety of our staff and customers and we would automatically tell any member of staff who felt traumatised that we are here to help and offer them time off work.

"However, I'm told that the male member of staff involved in Sunday's incident has now returned to work, but a senior manager from head office will be visiting the store this week to speak to him and see how he feels."

The thief entered the Scotmid store on Oxgangs Road North at around 9.10am on Sunday and fled towards Oxgangs Place.

Yesterday, neighbouring residents and businesses expressed their shock at the incident.

One resident, whose flat looks on to the Scotmid store, said: "There's only one of them in there to open up in the morning. They're usually hit by youngsters who run in to steal crates of beer and then run away again, but a knife's a totally different matter."

Ross Cennerazzo, owner of the neighbouring Chip Inn, said he did not leave his chip shop at night without "watching his back".

Colinton and Fairmilehead councillor Jason Rust, who has regularly defended Oxgangs against accusations that it is a deprived area plagued by violence, said that the latest incident should not be viewed in the context of a wider problem.

He added: "It's obviously a frightening experience for local residents and it's important that the serious nature of this crime is not overshadowed by the comical nature of the man's disguise."

Detective Sergeant Grant Johnston, of Lothian and Borders Police, appealed for information and said: "This is a very serious crime. He was seen removing the mask as he ran up the road carrying a bag and I would appeal for anyone who spotted a man matching this description to get in touch."

Det Sgt Johnston said the victim had not been physically hurt in the attack but was left very shaken.

DIARY OF BRUTAL INCIDENTS

THE knifepoint robbery is the latest in a series of incidents to occur within a square mile of the shop in the last 18 months.

Although the cases are unrelated, each was particularly brutal and the victims ranged from a pensioner to squaddies.

On August 12 last year, two girls aged between 14 and 16 set upon a cerebral palsy sufferer on Oxgangs Street. Two weeks previously, two soldiers were attacked on Oxgangs Bank.

In April 2008, Laura Reid, 27, stabbed accountant Gillian Massie, 36, outside St John's Oxgangs Church

and in January last year, a woman was sexually assaulted and mugged on Oxgangs Crescent.

In September 2007, d Kerr Dickson, 18, robbed Mary Mills, 84, at knifepoint in her home on Colinton Mains Road.