Harry, 86, offered lift to young raider who broke into his home

Pensioner returned for his copy of The Courier to discover wouldbe-thief sitting on his bed

An 86-year old man who disturbed a thief in his Perth home said he offered him a lift — because he is “too old to clobber anyone”.

Harry Turner described feeling “bewildered” to find the would-be thief in his home just moments after he left to go out for dinner.

The pensioner decided to grab a bite to eat because he was “fed up” in his house in Innerleithen Way.

However, just after leaving his home he realised he had forgotten his copy of The Courier so popped back to pick it up.

When he walked back in he found a young man sitting on his bed and going through his drawers.

“I was bewildered,” Mr Turner said. “I’m too old to be getting into a fight. I asked what he was doing and he said he hadn’t taken anything, so I offered him a lift.

“He said he would be going to Muirhead, but when I went to lock up he disappeared.”

Mr Turner said thoughts of flight or fight never entered his head.

“I was trying to be reasonable,” the pensioner added. “There’s no way I could clobber anyone at my age.”

Mr Turner was unhurt during the incident and said he does not think anything was taken by the culprit.

The man, thought to be in his mid-20s, let him see inside a bag he was carrying to prove he had not yet taken anything.

Mr Turner said the only item inside the bag was a brick.

The pensioner believes the man may have been a drug addict because he spoke with a marked “drawl”.

“It’s lucky I came back,” Mr Turner said. “My laptop was in getting repaired, which is just as well as I’m sure that’s the type of thing he would have gone for.

“It’s a shame that someone has let themselves go like that.”

Far from being angry or upset following the attempted break-in, Mr Turner said he felt sympathy for the young intruder.

“He was a good looking young lad and I feel really sorry for him,” he said.

“He could be one of your own. You just don’t know.”

Mr Turner praised the police for their prompt action once he had reported the incident.

“After he left I went down to the police station and they were very helpful,” he said. “A lady came up and dusted for fingerprints so it was quite educational.”

Although he appears to have remained calm throughout his ordeal, Mr Turner said he would definitely be keeping his doors securely locked in future.

“A lot of my friends give me a hard time for not locking my doors,” he said. “I do keep them locked now.”

Originally from Worcestershire, the pensioner moved to Perth 17 years ago with his now-deceased wife, who was from Errol,

When contacted by The Courier a police spokesman confirmed an investigation was being carried out into the incident, and said they were “keen” to speak to a man described as 5ft 10in, of average build with short dark hair.

The would-be-thief was wearing a maroon rain jacket and was carrying a small black bag.

The spokesman added: “We are again urging householders to consider home security measures for when they go out.

“If you are going out and you have a house alarm remember to set it and lock doors and windows when you leave.

“Anyone with any information that may be useful should contact Police Scotland on 101.”

“He was a good looking young lad and I feel really sorry for him. He could be one of your own. You just don’t know.

Picture: Gareth Jennings. Harry Turner said he was “bewildered” when he found the intruder going through his drawers.