Second car recovered in Hamilton & Inches investigation

Police officers in Edinburgh are issuing a fresh appeal for witness to come forward after another car linked to the Hamilton & Inches raid was recovered. Enquiries are on-going into the high-value armed robbery which took place on June 6, when three men dressed in dark clothing entered the store at around 11:40pm and threatened staff with various bladed weapons. The trio smashed a number of display cabinets before making off with over £1 million worth of goods, including a £325,000 diamond Chatila necklace and eight Patek Phillipe watches ranging from £22,000 to £66,000. All of the suspects were then seen entering a white BMW car, which was recovered a short time later in Gloucester Lane. Police can now reveal that the men abandoned the white BMW before getting into a dark blue Honda CRV that was heading towards Stockbridge. The Honda, a late 2007 model, would have contained at least four people and is thought to have travelled north along Gloucester Street on to Kerr Street, then through the main Stockbridge thoroughfare towards Raeburn Place. It was recovered abandoned in a car park at East Pilton Farm Rigg in Edinburgh, and it is believed that the vehicle may have been dumped there after the robbery. Detective inspector Carol Craig is urging any members of the public who may have seen the vehicle in Edinburgh on June 6 to get in touch with Police Scotland immediately. Craig, who has been leading the investigation, said: “The response we have had from members of the public to this very serious incident has been terrific so far. But those responsible have still to be identified and we hope that the recovery of the dark blue Honda CRV could prove crucial. “We are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicle being driven in Stockbridge around the time of the robbery or being dumped at East Pilton Farm Rigg to come forward.” “This was clearly a very high-value robbery and the items involved very precious pieces of jewellery. It was also a frightening experience for the staff at the shop and we are working hard to establish exactly what happened.”