19-05-2025
Sleuth Midlothian shopkeeper's gut feeling becomes reality when he checks CCTV
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A Midlothian shop manager was left furious after discovering an alleged thief was caught slipping an item into their pocket without paying.
Lee Rutherford, of Krazey Vapes Dalkeith High Street, said he was targeted between 4.25pm and 4.34pm on Saturday May 17.
Lee took to social media to alert businesses in the Midlothian town. He described the first male, who was wearing a black cap, white t'shirt and blue shorts, as being 5"10, with a distinctive tattoo.
The second male was seen wearing a dark cap with a blue top and is described as being 5"11. Both men are described as having an Irish accent.
"A male in a white t-shirt came in alone in the first instance," he said. "I had a feeling something wasn't right however he said he knew someone from the Rosyth store and that threw me off.
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"His phone rang and he said he would be back. A few minutes later he was joined by another man who was wearing a blue top.
"They both split up, and having been a doorman for 20 years, I knew then something was up. They kept asking for random stuff and when I explained I didn't have it, they left."
But when Lee checked his CCTV, he claimed he witnessed the man in white lifting a few packets of pods off the shelf. He alleged the man put two on the counter and was seen placing the others in his pocket.
"He lifted a few packs of pods off the shelf, put two on the counter and the rest in his pocket. He had asked me for something on my back wall to distract and then said the pods he had put on the counter would not fit his device.
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"I didn't bother contacting the police, about two years ago when working in a vape shop at the Grassmarket someone tried to rob us. I ended up with a split eye and they ended up with let's say, some injuries.
"The incident took place on a Saturday and it was not until the next Friday they even came out. I shared the post on Facebook to alert our neighbouring businesses."
