22-03-2025
West Lothian male caught 'swiping gin bottle' from independent shop shelf
An independent drinks retailer in Linlithgow has shared a video of a suspected shoplifter seemingly making off with a bottle of their gin.
Wee Whisky Shop, on the High Street, shared the video on March 16, which showed a man in a large dark green puffy jacket entering the store.
Workers were busy with customers when the male looked around sheepishly while eyeing a bottle of gin off a high shelf.
READ MORE: Huge queues at busy retail park for opening of new Edinburgh The Range store
READ MORE: Edinburgh A720 crash triggers delays as police race to scene and drivers warned
After looking around the store, the male reaches up, grabs the bottle and pretends to read the back of it before slipping it into their jacket.
They then quickly exited before being followed out of the store by what appears to be an employee.
In a statement on Facebook, the business said: 'Warning to anyone thinking of coming into our wee shop and helping yourself to a bottle……
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
'We have eyes in the back of our head!
'This guy tried and failed but does have great taste in gin it seems.'
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
The store stressed that this is not a normal occurrence on the High Street, with businesses in the area able to trade without fear of being targeted by shoplifters.
They shared the video in order to alert other stores in the area. The incident was not reported to Police Scotland.