Police probe after vandal targets popular Edinburgh family-run cafe with white paint

Staff members of Cafe Gallo in Stockbridge have issued a plea of information

Author: Paul ReillyPublished 9th Jul 2024

Police have launched an investigation after a hooded man appeared to cover the shopfront of a popular family-run Edinburgh cafe in white gloss paint.

The attack on Cafe Gallo in Stockbridge happened around 1am on Sunday.

Staff members have since issued a plea of information to find the culprit.

CCTV image of the man thought to have vandalised the cafe

In a post on Cafe Gallo's Instagram it said: "So this is what we woke up to on Sunday morning at our wee cafe… Some low life had gone to the bother of throwing a full pot of white gloss paint over our window, canopy and shopfront, not to mention the mess he’s made to the whole of Raeburn Place.

"This happened on Sunday morning 07/07/24 at around 1:40am. If anyone has any information at all please let us know".

It took Oscar Di-Domenico, whose mum owns the cafe, around two hours to clean-up on Sunday morning.

He said they still managed to open as business as usual and have a busy day.

Oscar added "I had already been sent photos of the shopfront by people passing by before I arrived in the morning at around 07:30.

'Disrupted the whole neighbourhood and just the cafe'

"It has caused a massive disruption. The paint has completely destroyed the whole woodwork on the shop front. I'm going to have to spend money to get that all repainted. It's also covered the whole pavement and the council is coming out to clean that. It has spread so far. Cyclists have been trailing through it with their bikes so the paint is now all over the street and you can follow the trail of paint from the cafe to the park.

Loyal customers have also been coming together to help and support the business.

Oscar said "We don't know why this man has done this. We've had no issues with anyone and we have no understanding as to why this happened".

Police Scotland has been aware of the incident and is investigating.

A spokesperson for the force has said "Around 4.40am on Sunday, 7 July 2024 police received a report of vandalism at a property in Raeburn Place, Edinburgh.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

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