Several crimes in 2022 shook communities in Edinburgh and the Lothians, with police having investigated a double death, Bonfire Night riots and multiple attacks by a balaclava gang.
Here are seven crimes which hit the headlines this year and shocked those in Edinburgh and further afield.
. Crimes that shook Edinburgh
These are 7 of the crimes which rocked communities in Edinburgh and beyond in 2022. Photo: Submitted
. Greendykes Road deaths
On November 1, Derek Johnston (left) and Desmond Rowlings were found dead inside a flat in Greendykes Road. The bodies of the men, who were aged 37 and 66 respectively, were discovered by officers who had responded to a call at the address. The families of Derek and Desmond said they would be “forever missed and remembered with love”. Two men were later arrested and charged and appeared in court accused of two counts of murder. Photo: Submitted
5. Peter Coshan death
The city was left shocked in August after police announced that they believed missing pensioner Peter Coshan to be dead and they were treating his disappearance as murder. The 75-year-old former Fettes College teacher had been reported missing on August 12 and his body was found three weeks later on land close to the A696 near Kirkwhelpington in Northumberland. Two men were arrested and charged in connection with his death. Photo: Submitted
6. Corsa Cannibalism
Cars parked in Livingston South station were badly damaged and had their parts stripped in September by what was believed to be an organised criminal gang. Vehicles had their windows smashed in and their front bonnets entirely torn off overnight, with all cars targeted having been Vauxhall Corsas. This sparked concerns from the local community that it could be the work of 'Corsa Cannibals'. Photo: Gary Sabiston
7. Woman chased while on jog
The community in Portobello was left concerned after news that a woman had been chased while out on a run. The 21-year-old victim was forced to sprint back to her car after having been pursued by a man while out a late-night jog on Portobello Beach. It soon became clear that a man walking nearby was following her and he later waved at her and shouted "f****ing wait". “To go from having a small run on the beach, to having to sprint away from a man who was following me, it was horrible," she said. "It was like a horror story.” Photo: SWS Group/JPIMedia
8. Balaclava gang attacks
There were several incidents involving balaclava-clad gang members who wreaked havoc across Edinburgh this year. One incident saw a motorbike instructor attacked while on a lesson in the Capital. The man, who works for Two Wheels, was out with a client when a group of youths on electric bikes came out of a junction and almost hit them. Then, after trying to harass the trainee rider, the gang of four set upon the instructor and tried to kick him off his bike and into the road. Other incidents saw balaclava gangs ambush a woman and stop her leaving her car and pour tomato ketchup on a group of people in The Meadows. Photo: Submitted