Terrified Edinburgh Shop Staff Held at Knifepoint in Balaclava Robbery

A police hunt is underway in Edinburgh after retail staff were subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a man wearing a balaclava threatened them at knifepoint before robbing the store. The incident occurred during the late afternoon on Monday, 22 December 2025, leaving the employees deeply shaken.

The suspect entered the commercial premises, brandished a knife, and demanded money from the till. Fearing for their safety, the staff complied, and the robber fled the scene with a quantity of cash. Fortunately, no physical injuries were reported, though the staff members involved have been left severely traumatised by the confrontation.

The suspect is described as a male wearing dark clothing and a black balaclava to cover his face. Detectives are reviewing security footage from the store and surrounding streets to trace the suspect's route before and after the robbery.

The Detective Inspector investigating the case commented: "This was a cowardly and frightening attack on workers who were simply doing their jobs. We are deploying additional patrols in the area and urge anyone who saw anything suspicious or has dashcam footage from the street to contact us immediately." Information can be provided by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.