Edinburgh city centre jeweller 'may cease trading' after '£20k daylight robbery' by three women
A city centre jewellery shop may be forced to close its doors for good after brazen thieves stole stock totalling many thousands of pounds during a daytime raid.
Three women allegedly took 211 rings from Celtic Jewellery and Gemstones at 95 High Street in the space of just 15 minutes, shortly after 4pm on Monday, April 6.
Staff said the suspects placed bags on the floor and dropped items from three display cases into them while a lone employee was distracted.
The owner of the store estimates the value of the stolen jewellery at between £15,000 and £20,000.
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One of the suspects reportedly attempted to return to the store, located near John Knox House, at around 5.30pm. The employee, who had reviewed CCTV footage and discovered the theft, refused her entry and contacted the police, prompting the woman to flee.
Shop supervisor Rajat Walia admitted the Celtic Jewellery and Gemstones shop has been forced to shut for now, as they count the cost of this daylight robbery.
He said: “They have taken most of our stock. They just came in the shop, put their bags down and took the rings from three cases of our most expensive rings. They took 211 rings in just 15 minutes.
It’s a daylight robbery, and now we have had to shut the shop
“It’s a daylight robbery, and now we have had to shut the shop until we get the rings back or re-stock. We don’t have enough stock to stay open just now.
“Our staff member didn’t notice the theft until after they left, but before they returned. When one of them returned, our staff member refused to let her in, and then called the police.
“Two of us had nipped out for 40 minutes and that’s when the three women came in, so they were obviously watching our movements waiting for their chance to rob us.”
Rajat believes the theft was carried out by an organised crime gang who have targeted the shop before. And he warned that if the gang is not stopped his shop might have to cease trading on Edinburgh’s High Street.
He said: “The same people have robbed from us and other shops on the High Street before, they are known to police, it’s all organised groups. They know what they are doing.
“We can’t afford for this to keep happening. It’s a problem that’s growing in this area. It needs to be stopped, otherwise we might not be able to continue.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 5.55pm on Monday, 6 April, 2026, we were made aware of a theft from a premises on High Street in Edinburgh. Enquiries are ongoing."