The Cameo Picturehouse, a favourite among Edinburgh University students, was broken into overnight on 7 March.
The Cameo, known for its historic charm and student-friendly prices, is popular with university students seeking a cozy and nostalgic cinema experience.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 5.45am on Friday 7 March 2025, officers received a report of a break-in at a premises on Lochrin Place, Edinburgh.”
Rob Eves, General Manager at the Cameo Picturehouse, told The Student: “We are fully cooperating with local authorities as they investigate the incident.”
“We would like to reassure our customers and partners that our operations remain unaffected.”
Eves continued: “We appreciate the support and understanding of the community.”
The extent or cost of damages following the break-in remains unclear, despite ongoing enquiries.
This incident highlights a broader trend of increased theft in Scotland. A 2024 Police Scotland Report found that crimes of dishonesty, including theft and housebreaking, accounted for over a third (37 per cent) of all reported crimes in Scotland during 2023-24.
Unfortunately, Edinburgh has not been spared from this trend, with the city reporting 5,747 accounts of shoplifting in 2023/24 – a 61.6 per cent increase since 2022/23.
Shopkeepers have specifically commented on a sudden spike in smash-and-grab thieves along the Royal Mile, noting violent thief behaviour that has contributed to heightened fear and a sense of lawlessness around the city.
Anne Ness, the Secretary of the Morningside Traders Association, described the current shoplifting crisis as “mad” and “completely off the scale.”
Police have responded by increasing patrols in high-risk areas and urging businesses to improve security measures, with Justice Secretary Angela Constance highlighting a proposed national budget allocation of £3m towards fighting retail crime. This is in addition to a record £1.62bn investment in policing for 2025-26.
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