Black box tracker leads police to car thief within an hour

A car thief was caught just an hour after making his getaway after the vehicle’s owner tracked it using a mobile phone app and a “black box” device fitted by his insurance company.

Guy Weston admitted carrying out the theft at an address in Arbroath.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard Weston’s victim went to bed around 1am and his son returned home half an hour later and noticed the car wasn’t in the driveway.

When the victim found out the car was missing he immediately picked up his phone and loaded an app provided by his insurer, which instantly tracked it to Dundee’s Bonnethill Court.

Police went to the block of flats and found the vehicle parked outside.

CCTV footage showed Weston parking at the scene before going into the building and entering a flat.

Police went to the door and their knocking went unanswered but a man was seen throwing clothing and a car key off the fifth-floor landing.

The accused was found in the flat wearing distinctive clothing seen in the CCTV footage and the car was recovered, along with its contents.

Weston, 34, a prisoner at Perth, admitted theft of a motor vehicle on February 17.

Defence solicitor advocate Jim Laverty said: “He accepts the serious nature of this particular offence.

“He is currently on a community payback order imposed before this offence.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports and remanded Weston in custody.