Police are seeking help to trace a stolen car which was taken following a housebreaking incident in north Edinburgh last night.

The incident happened at an address on Strachan Road at around 10.15pm. Three men forced entry to a property and stole car keys to a grey Mercedes GLA vehicle, with the registration plate SM20 EEH, which was parked in the driveway.

The car was then forcibly driven through secure gates out of the driveway and as a result sustained extensive front-end damage.

The vehicle was sighted by officers on Ferry Road and a pursuit took place to Waterfront Broadway. The stolen vehicle then made an attempt to collide with the police vehicle, at which point the pursuit was abandoned.

The last sighting of the Mercedes was it heading south on Ferry Road Drive, with smoke coming from the vehicle. A further possible sighting was reported of the vehicle heading east towards Ocean Terminal, Leith, and in the Marionville area.

It is believed that the suspects involved in this theft were also involved in a collision with a police car on Eskfield Gove, Dalkeith, earlier in the evening. This incident took place at around 5.15pm when a different stolen car, a Volkswagen Tiguan, collided with a police vehicle. The two police officers were assessed by ambulance personnel at the scene, and the three males fled the area.

Detective Inspector George Calder from Edinburgh CID said: “We have a number of focussed enquiries being conducted in the north Edinburgh area today as we seek to trace this stolen vehicle. I’d ask the public to be on the lookout for this grey Mercedes GLA parked in any area, or any sightings of it overnight. It has sustained significant damage.

“The Air Support Unit was deployed over the city and surrounding areas last night in further efforts to trace the suspects and the stolen vehicle.

“We are following a number of positive lines of enquiry in relation to these offences. I’d ask anyone who can help us trace the vehicle, or has any information on those involved in these crimes, to come forward and speak to officers as soon as possible.”

Those with information should contact Police Scotland via 101 and quote incident number 3939 of 25 October 2021. An anonymous report can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.