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The Edinburgh Evening Courant reported this about the Bruce hardware store robbery:

Sheriff Clerk's Office, Edinburgh; December 28, 1786

Between Sunday night and Monday morning last, a Hardware Shop here was broke into, and the following articles carried off: A lady's gold watch, enamelled back, figure offering up a gift to Hymen — A large plain gold watch, caped and jeweled — A small secondhand gold watch; makers name of these three J. J. Jackson, London — One small single cased watch, maker's name Innes — Two silver watches, name Armstrong—Several gold rings, breast pins, and lockits, plain and set round with pearl for hair device — A few pairs set knee and shoe buckles—Two lancet cases full of lancets, makers name Lavignie — All the rings, breastpins, lockits, and set buckles, are marked, in the under side with a sharp nail, the initials of the shop mark, and the selling price plain figures; so that if any attempt is made to erase any of these marks, it will easily be noticed. Whoever will give such information, within three months from this date, to William Scott, procurator-fiscal of this County, as shall lead to a discovery of the person or persons who committed the above theft, shall, upon conviction of the offender or offenders, receive a reward of Twenty Guineas, and the informer's name, if required, concealed.

William Scott, Proc. Fiscal.

N.B. If any of the above articles are offered to sale, it is requested they may be stopped, and the person offering them detained till notice is given as above, for which a handsome reward will be given, besides all charges paid.

• 9 October 1786: Goldsmith James Wemyss' shop.
• Late November to early December 1786: Davidson McKain's hardware store was cased and robbed.
• 8 December 1786: John Law's tobacco shop.
• Deacon Brodie's Next Crime: 16 August 1787: John Carnegie's grocery store.
• 29 October 1787: Edinburgh University's silver mace.
•  Christmas season 1787: John Tapp's house.
• 8 January 1788: Inglis and Horner silk merchant shop.
• 5 March 1788: Edinburgh's Excise Office.
• Planned future crimes.