1787.
Shop-breaking.
That in the Night betwixt Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th of August instant, the Shop of John Carnegie, Grocer, at the foot of St. Andrew’s Street, Leith, was broke into, and about 350 pounds of fine black tea stolen and carried off.
Whoever will give such information to William Scott, procurator-fiscal of the County of Edinburgh, within three months from this date, as shall lead to a discovering in the premises, will receive from him a reward of Ten Guineas, on conviction of the offender or offenders and the informer’s name (if required) concealed.
N.B. It is presumed the above theft has been committed by some of those who stroll the country under the pretence of hawking tea, and who may have had access to know Mr. Carnegie’s shop. The tea was turned out of the packages, and yesterday several parcels of tea were observed lying at different places on the Bonnington road, as if dropt from a parcel, which is a farther confirmation of the above suspicion, and that the tea stolen is carried to the country for sale by some hawker. If, therefore, any considerable quantity of tea is observed in the custody of any suspicious person or persons, it is intreated they may be secured, and notice given to said William Scott, who will pay all reasonable charges, besides a reasonable gratification for trouble.
Shop Breaking and Theft.
Sheriff Clerk’s Office, Edinburgh, Oct. 29. 1787.
That in the night betwixt Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th of October Curt. a Shoemaker’s shop in the Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, was broke into, and the following articles stole and carried off therefrom viz:—Ten pairs of Boots—Twenty pairs of Men’s shoes—Three pairs of Men’s slippers, red leather—One pair ditto, yellow—Eighteen pair white silk Queen’s Uppers for shoes, embroidered with gold and silver—A silver watch, maker’s name J. Dare, London, No. 2031—Another ditto, cracked on the outer Case, and having a leather string—A stone ring set in gold, having a man’s head engraved thereon—A Lady’s Pocket-book, of red Turkey leather, shut with a steel lock—Six pair of Men’s silk Stockings, part white and part marled, marked J.C. and numbered—A hard leather Snuffbox, in the shape of a boot—Also, About four pound of bad halfpence, with papers of various kind, and in particular some parchments, and other rights of houses.
Whoever will give to William Scott, procurator-fiscal of this County, within three months from this date, such information as shall lead to a discovery of the person or persons who committed the aforesaid shop-breaking and theft; or will cause apprehend and imprison the said person or persons, shall, upon conviction of the offender or offenders, receive a reward of Ten Pounds, and the informer’s name (if required) concealed.
N.B. If articles similar to the above are offered to sale, or discovered in the custody of any person of a suspicious appearance, it is entreated that the goods may be stopped and the person or persons in whose custody they are found secured, till notice is sent as above, for which a handsome reward will be given, besides all charges paid.