A LOCAL plastic-free grocer has reported that their windows were smashed last week in an unexpected attack by angry teenagers.
The Refillery on Newington Road was damaged around 9pm on Friday evening in an incident that occurred whilst they were closed.
It is alleged that the youths were enraged after being denied vapes by a neighbouring shop, due to being underage.
They are said to have used a pallet to “attack” staff before moving onto the street and smashing the window of the “plastic-free and ethical” grocery store.
The Refillery shared a picture of their smashed glass facade to social media over the weekend, saying: “So this happened last night.
“Two windows in fact damaged by teenagers.
“Seems they were angry that a shop on the same street wouldn’t sell them vapes (as they’re underage).
“They ran riot in the shop neighbouring us, swinging a pallet around and attacking the staff.
“The chaos spilled onto the street, and they decided to trash our windows. This all happened at around 9pm. Thankfully we were closed.
“It got me thinking about the whole vape situation.
“We don’t sell vapes, cigarettes or alcohol, so in the last six years [we] haven’t had any real trouble with teenagers but it’s fairly common among other shops I’m told.
“So, whilst the vaping industry makes their millions, their vendors are having to put up with all the aggression.
“There are shops in this area that are known to be selling vapes to underage teenagers so that is clearly bringing them to the area.
“There’s very little the other shopkeepers can do when these teenagers launch their attacks as they’re too young and many are girls too.
“They simply have to stand back. Which I imagine is very frustrating.
“What’s going to be done, Ian Murray MP, to stop teenagers running feral on your doorstep?”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said today: “Around 9:15pm on Friday, 31 January we received a report of vandalism to a window on Newington Road, Edinburgh.
“Anyone who knows who is responsible should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3799 of 31 January, 2025.”
They also said: “Around 8pm on Friday, 31 January, 2025, we received a report of a disturbance near to a shop involving a group of youths on Newington Road in Edinburgh. Enquiries are ongoing.”
