Police are appealing for witnesses after two 14-year-old boys were assaulted and robbed as they cycled along Durham Drive around 6:20pm last night.
The teenagers were stopped by three unknown males who grabbed them and told them to hand over their bikes.
All three suspects then made off with the bikes heading in the direction of Milton Road West before being lost from sight.
The bikes are believed to be worth a four-figure sum of money and described as a Giant Stance mountain bike, with a blue and black frame and 27 gears, and a Specialised Pitch bike, white with black writing and black wheels.
Police are now carrying out various inquiries in an effort to trace the suspects and want to hear from anyone who can help identify them.
The first suspect is described as white, approximately 15-17 years old, around 5ft 9ins tall with a heavy build and chubby face. He wore a light grey coloured Nike tracksuit with the Nike logo displayed on the left breast with matching bottoms and black gloves.
The second suspect is white, around 16 years old, 5ft 9ins tall, with a medium build. He wore a light-grey coloured Nike tracksuit with a zip on the left arm and a black body warmer.
The final male is also white, has a medium build, 5ft 9ins tall and wearing a navy coloured tracksuit.
Detective Constable John McShane of Craigmillar Police Station said: “Fortunately, neither boy was injured in this incident however they have been left shaken.
“Local officers are carrying out various inquiries in an effort to trace those responsible as quickly as possible and I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has information that can help us identify them.
“Similarly, I ask anyone who was in the area around the time of this incident and who noticed any persons who they believe have been offered the stolen bikes for sale to come forward.”
Those with information should contact police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
