Gang accused of stealing 100 umbrellas to sell to Festival tourists

Undercover officers at the Edinburgh Festival arrested two members of a crime gang who planned to sell stolen umbrellas to unsuspecting tourists.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Aug 2016, 09:00 BST

Updated 30th Aug 2016, 10:04 BST

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Festival. Pictured Heavy rain falls on the Royal Mile during the Festival. Picture Steven Scott Taylor

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It is believed that over 100 umbrellas were stolen during the Festival by the gang.

Two members of the outfit were stopped by plain clothes officers after “acting suspiciously” on the Royal Mile on Sunday August 28. At the time, the duo had a combined total of 40 umbrellas on them.

Officers then uncovered a stash of around 60 brollies in Princes Street Gardens.

It is believed that the brollies were collected in a series of small robberies from near-by shops.

Police confirmed two men aged 52 and 54 have been arrested in connection with shoplifting.