Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Injured thief left blood at break-in
A THIEF who smashed his way into a house and stole a raft of goods was caught red-handed after leaving traces of his blood at the crime scene.
Police had no difficulty finding Gary Gibson (pictured) after the sticky-fingered crook approached officers looking for a lift home – while in possession of some of the plunder.
The haul Gibson made off with on March 15 included jewellery, electrical items, a yoga mat and a beard trimmer.
The 32-year-old was jailed at Dundee Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to the offence.
The court heard the couple who owned the home had returned to Melrose Terrace at 11am believing their son was in the property.
However, they received no reply after shouting out and discovered glass strewn across the living room where the window had been smashed.
Prosecutor Saima Rasheed said: “At 12pm, police attended and saw most of the room had been disturbed.
“There were apparent bloodstains in numerous locations.
“Scenes of crime officers obtained swabs for analysis where it was found the accused Gary Gibson’s blood had been deposited on multiple drawers and handles.”
Later that day, Gibson, a serial offender, waved to police claiming he had been assaulted before asking for a lift home.
Officers searched him and found a Samsung mobile and cufflinks in his possession which were assumed stolen but they did not know from where. Gibson was later charged in connection with the thefts.
Other items stolen from the couple’s home included an iPod, earplugs, a credit card, a games console and controller, five video games, a coffee maker, coffee pots, an iPad, a speaker stand, a folder with documents and a smart meter.
Gibson, a prisoner of HMP Perth, pleaded guilty to breaking into the house on March 15 and stealing the items when he appeared via video link from the prison.
Defence solicitor Jim Caird urged the sheriff to defer sentence in order for social work reports to be obtained, but Sheriff Carmichael jailed Gibson for 16 months.