Several Edinburgh shop owners in Gorgie feel hopeless after being terrorised by teen gang and 'ignored by police' when seeking help for the harassment.
A number of businesses in the community have been repeatedly targeted by a group of teens with the behaviour escalating from causing havoc and shoplifting to vandalism and assault.
Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton says that the force are aware of the incidents and are putting more police on patrol in the area. But after months of incidents, locals have told Edinburgh Live it feels like "too little, too late".
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After months of incidents, one shop which has endured countless encounters the aggressive gang has been forced to close for two weeks after the window was smashed while she was locked in the shop hiding from the group.
On the same day a shop owner across the street was thrown to the floor with a burst nose gushing with blood after he confronted the gang for shoplifting.
Earlier in the week we visited several businesses on Gorgie Road to find out just how detrimental the impact is to their livelihoods and many told us they felt let down by police who, they said, failed to take it seriously when they were contacted.
Lillian who has had to close her shop for two weeks said: "Many times all the teens are involved. I'm still waiting for police to come and take a statement since I was assaulted on June 28, I don't know when they will come."
She continued: "I call police and most of the time they don't come. One time I was so scared and knew the police weren't coming and didn't know what to do so I locked the door of the shop.
"They kept banging the glass door with a lot of force so I phoned 999 and eventually they came out. Police have told me because they are minors all they can do is send them home. After two hours they are back on the street again.
"They have no consequences, every time they have done something to me, nothing happens. It's a small shop and I can't afford it, the more they come the more I lose.
"This time it was the window that will cost £1000 and I have had to close. There is no point to even repair it when they are around because they will break it again.
"I feel threatened and I don't know what to do anymore. My emotions are all over the place I broke down in tears in front of the police officer. It feels like they want to kill me, the way they aggressively keep tormenting me."
Vanniyasingamappanar Pakeirathan said he was assaulted the same day the Japanese shop had the window smashed just hours apart. He said: "When I got attacked blood was pouring from my nose so we called police.
"Police asked if I wanted an ambulance but I said no I just want the police to come out but they didn't come. They said they don't have the time and to make an appointment, then they will come tomorrow."
He continued: "I said no I want them here immediately because the incident is happening now, it's a crime. I explained and they said sorry we don't have enough officers to come out and they still haven't come out.
"It's just really not nice because I'm the victim in a serious incident. They won't take any action, it happens at the shop next door, at Poundstretchers, the Japanese shop - at all different businesses up and down Gorgie Road."
Charlie Siba who owns Amma Spices added: "People are avoiding Gorgie completely, and going up town to Nicolson Square to get their shopping.
"The police are up town 24/7 so if anything happens they can be there quickly. Days ago the guy two doors up got attacked and they still haven’t been to take a statement."
Labour Councillor Ross McKenzie for the area said: “I went to visit some of the affected shopkeepers this morning and they have been through a lot in recent weeks. It’s gone from incidents of theft and intimidation to cases of racist abuse and physical violence.
"Gorgie Road hasn’t experienced issues like these before and it seems that there are a few specific individuals responsible. As well as the police, I’ll be speaking to council officers and youth agencies to see what can be done to prevent these incidents from occurring in the future.
"It’s important to remember that these are children - we need to protect the shopkeepers but we also need to help these kids to get out of this situation”
When Edinburgh Live contacted Police Scotland over local shop-owners' concerns with the lack of response and care regarding the matters, police said they were aware of the incidents and will be deploying more officers to the area.
Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton, Area Commander for South West Edinburgh told us “We are aware of anti-social behaviour issues in the Gorgie area and the impact this has on local business owners and the wider community."
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He added: “We take reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and are engaging with business owners and partners to tackle these matters.
“A female youth has already been charged in relation to one incident and our officers are continuing to carry out enquiries into any other reports of such behaviour.
“We have also put in place additional patrols to discourage anti-social behaviour and trace those responsible. Anyone with concerns can approach officers or call police via 101.”
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