Facebook nets thief

Internet appeal paid off

People power led to a thief being collared after a report of a break-in was posted on a village Facebook page.

Garry Finnie (32) was jailed for 14 months after it emerged he had targeted three separate properties and made off with hundreds of pounds worth of wine, frozen food and electrical items.

Two local residents spotted the accused using a wheelbarrow to transport some of the stolen items to his home in Meigle.

They responded to a subsequent appeal on Facebook and police officers managed to arrest him.

His haul - which included a case of Budweiser beer, champagne, frozen scampi, prawns and chips, as well as a sat nav system, a radio and an electric razor - was recovered.

Finnie, who had gone to live with his brother in Glebe Way, Meigle, to get away from bad influences in Dundee, admitted breaking into a shed at Old Bank House, Meigle, owned by George Doig, on April 18 and 19 this year.

He made off with three bottles of wine, worth £30, and a £10 bottle of champagne.

The same night he stole four £3 jars of coffee, several £1.50 packets of biscuits and a £10 pack of beer from a Portakabin at Shephard and Co, Smithy Lane, Meigle. His thieving spree continued when he went to a garage attached to Pinegrove, Alyth Road, Meigle, and made off with a quantity of frozen food from a freezer there.

He then gained access to a camper van and stole the electrical items, as well as three bottles of wine and a collection of CDs, valued at £500.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said local residents had seen him pushing a barrow along to the property in Glebe Way in the early hours.

After one of the break-ins was mentioned on Facebook, these two witnesses came forward.

Mr Malpass added: “Suspicion had fallen on the accused and police attended at his brother’s house.”

Finnie admitted his involvement and “directed” police to where they could find the stolen property.

They were recovered and returned to their respective owners but some of the items were described as “perishable goods.”

Lawyer Paul Parker Smith said his client had “relapsed” into heroin misuse at the time but was now on a methadone programme.

Sheriff William Wood said that although the offences didn’t involve any “violation” of people’s homes, the privacy of their property had been invaded.

“Only a custodial sentence is appropriate,” he added.

Only a custodial sentence is appropriate