Edinburgh Day Today store that helped elderly during coronavirus lockdown with 'survival' packs broken into by thieves

A daily convenience store in Edinburgh that helped hundreds of local elderly people during the pandemic has been broken into.

This convenience store in Drylaw which been described as a 'lifeline' has been broken into (image Zahid Iqbal of Day-Today).

It is understood thieves forced entry into the Day Today store in Drylaw in Edinburgh late on Monday evening and caused damage to the premises.

Shop owners say a number of items were stolen during the break-in, which has shocked the local community.

The news comes after the store handed out hundreds of coronavirus ‘survival’ packs to elderly people in the community at the beginning of the pandemic.

The free ‘survival’ packs included essential items such as one toilet roll, an anti-bacterial handwash, a packet of pocket tissues and one packet of paracetamol.

Anyone unable to pick up their pack had it delivered to their house for free by calling the shop.

On Tuesday morning, owners of the store posted on social media announcing they had had a break-in.

A post from the store said: "We have had a break in last night.

"Shop is closed until police do their job. Sorry for the inconvenience."

The post saw the local community supporting the store, with people commenting that the break-in was a ‘disgusting’ crime against a ‘brilliant business.’

The shop was able to reopen again around mid-morning following the incident.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We were made aware of a break-in at a shop on Easter Drylaw Place in Edinburgh around 7.35am on Tuesday, 6 April.

"Entry was forced to the premises sometime over the previous night and a number of items stolen from the shop.

"Inquiries are ongoing and at an early stage."

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