One of Scotland’s most famous shopping streets has become ‘lawless’ with a rise in smash-and-grab criminals making off with thousands of pounds worth of high-end goods.

Retailers along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile claim they have been left fearing for their safety as the number of organised thefts soared in recent months and called for a ‘much greater police presence’.

CCTV footage captured by firms shows hooded thieves smashing windows and bundling items, including Harris tweed handbags, Barbour jackets and cashmere scarves, into plastic carrier bags, before making off, while passers-by watch on.

In one clip a hooded thief in a wheelchair can be seen getting help to load armfuls of items into a bag from an outside stall before making their get-away in broad daylight.

Galab Singh Gold, who owns dozens of shops in and around the Royal Mile, said shopkeepers have even reported being followed by thieves at night after closing up.

One manager said she was punched in the face, while others have reported being thrown to the floor or intimidated if they attempt to apprehend the thieves.

In a joint statement Gold Brothers Group and Scottish Experience Ltd said their stores were seeing criminals ‘openly smashing windows after closing time when it’s dark and stealing from shops’.

Two premises had their windows ‘kicked in’ three nights in a row.

Shop manager Maria Sanchez was punched in the face by ‘aggressive’ thieves

A spokesman said: ‘The thieves can be seen on CCTV footage climbing up the building on Castlehill to smash and grab the goods and hand down to an accomplice.’

Other footage shows thieves, often equipped with a list of items to steal, walking into the stores during opening hours, grabbing armfuls of items from racks, or stuffing smaller items into their clothing, before casually leaving with the stolen goods.

The ‘theftdemic’, on ‘Scotland’s number one visitor street’, shop owners said, was being witnessed by tourists from across the world.

Mr Singh Gold said: ‘Thieves have run off with multiple Harris Tweed and Barbour jackets and have also been seen running off with baskets full of cashmere scarves and large baskets of soft toys.’

He believes the goods are being stolen to re-sell and could be linked to organised crime gangs.

The shop owner called for greater police engagement to ‘disrupt the supply chain of stolen goods’.

‘We also need a much greater police presence both on foot and vehicle patrols in the area to at least deter or apprehend criminals,’ he added.

Shops are also facing expensive damage to properties, including window replacements of up to £3,000.

Sabine Fischlin manager of the Woolen Mill on the Royal Mile, says shoplifting is getting worse

Mr Singh Gold said: ‘Our staff are also reporting that they feel intimated, threatened, uneasy, nervous and stressed by this lawlessness. 

‘Staff are being threatened and followed after work to bus stops and abused.’

Maria Sanchez, manager of Marchbrae on the Royal Mile, told the BBC she was punched in the face during one incident and, a day later, thieves were waiting for her outside the shop and she had to call colleagues for back-up.

The 46-year-old said: ‘It is a very dangerous street now as it’s full of criminals.’

Stephanie Karté, national operations manager for Retailers Against Crime said violent theft ‘has now become an epidemic’ with incidents reported ‘daily’.

She said: ‘Shoplifting can be perceived as a petty theft, but we’ve got to change that. It is not a victimless crime.’

Police Scotland confirmed that a 43-year-old man had recently been charged over thefts from two shops on the Royal Mile in October.

Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton said the force was ‘fully aware’ of ongoing issues with thefts in the area.

He said there was a dedicated team working with businesses and that police carried out regular patrols.

He added: ‘I can assure everyone that we are investigating all incidents reported to us.

‘We work closely with the retail and business sectors to deter, prevent and investigate retail crime.’