Victim tackled thief she found in house

A STUDENT has described the moment she fought off a thief in her own home after catching him in the act.

Cara Brown, 22, confronted Robert Anderson when she found him inside the flat she shared with three other students last year.

After wrestling with Anderson, Cara managed to grab his mobile phone before he ran off, and called the police.

Officers traced him through phone details and arrested him on theft and assault charges.

Anderson, 40, of Forres Crescent, admitted three charges at Dundee Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on August 22, at Daniel Terrace, he stole computer games and DVDs and assaulted Miss Brown.

He further admitted that on September 2, at Charleston Drive, he stole a TV, a mobile and bank cards, an iPhone, medication and other items. Cara, from Forfar, said: “When I caught him in my house stuffing things into his bag he looked really surprised and awkward.

“I asked him what he thought he was doing.

“As he tried to escape I followed him into the hallway and grabbed his bag and his phone.

“I reacted immediately and basically decided he wasn’t going to get away with this. “I’m delighted he was charged and has gone to court for what he did.

“I knew I had to get evidence and that’s what I did.

“I don’t really get scared and he definitely didn’t scare me.

“He chose the wrong person. I was more than happy to fight back.”

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court Miss Brown had been waiting for a handyman when she found Anderson.

“Miss Brown realised the accused was not the handyman and so grabbed hold of the strap of the rucksack he was wearing, suspecting he had stolen items within,” the fiscal said.

“The accused then said: ‘I will actually ******* hit you’ and a struggle ensued between both of them.”

Anderson bent Miss Brown’s fingers back an attempt to fend her off but during the struggle she managed to grab his mobile phone from his pocket, the court heard. The DVDs and computer games, worth about £110, were never recovered.

Anderson had sentence deferred until July 25.

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Victim Cara Brown.