CCTV footage has captured the moment a knife-wielding robber was laughed out of a convenience store by brave staff in Edinburgh. Finlay Crawshaw, 21, burst into the News Plus store in Gorgie brandishing a large kitchen knife, but instead of handing over cash, the two employees began laughing at him and told him there was no money in the till. The bungling thief was forced to flee empty-handed.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred at around 10.30pm on November 27 last year. Crawshaw is heard shouting: "Hey listen, down, down, down bro, down bro - you laughing at me?" The shop worker remains unfazed and replies: "We've got no money man." Crawshaw then retreats as the employees continue laughing.
Approximately 15 minutes later, Crawshaw entered a nearby takeaway called Chippy Junction on Gorgie Road, where he brandished the same red-handled knife at two employees and stole an unknown sum of cash. He had also carried out a similar robbery at the Slateford Express store on November 9 last year, where he demanded cash and cigarettes before fleeing with stolen items.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Crawshaw, originally from Bolton, Lancashire, appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on May 28 this year—his 21st birthday—and pleaded guilty to three assault and robbery charges. He was remanded in custody and sentenced on June 16 to a total of three years in jail. Sheriff Kenneth Campbell KC also imposed a 12-month supervised release order, meaning Crawshaw will be monitored by authorities upon release.
Fiscal depute Corey Laouadi told the court that during the first robbery, Crawshaw entered the Slateford Express store with his face covered, waving a knife, and shouted "give me all the money" before taking cash and cigarettes. The assistant pressed a panic alarm, and Crawshaw fled. The second and third robberies occurred 18 days later within 15 minutes. After being laughed out of the first shop, Crawshaw entered the Chippy Junction takeaway and again brandished the knife, shouting "open the till" and grabbing a handful of notes before running toward Gorgie Mill Road.
Police deployed firearms officers to track Crawshaw down, but he was not located and arrested until several days later. Following the incidents, police raided two properties in Edinburgh, where they discovered and seized the large kitchen knife used in the attacks.
