Bungling crook left his ID at scene of break-in

Convict apologised when homeowner found him at front door after being disturbed

A thief who left his identity card behind after he was disturbed during a break-in has been locked up.

When Rafal Hil targeted a Dunfermline home in the early hours of the morning he awoke the owner who heard him smashing a window.

He then went outside and the owner found him lurking at the front door, where Hil said “hello” and apologised for the damage.

Hil fled the scene with stolen items but left his jacket – and police found his Polish national identity card in a pocket.

He appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, accompanied by a translator.

Hil, 37, admitted breaking into a house on Bothwell Street on April 18 and stealing an iPod and a set of keys.

Hil, previously of Lauder Street, Dunfermline, is already serving a jail term imposed in Dundee last month.

Depute fiscal Sarah Lumsden said that at 12.20am the homeowner was awoken by the sound of breaking glass and went to investigate.

He found a glass panel in his front door had been smashed and there was a holdall lying on the living room floor.

The man went upstairs to call the police and when he came back down heard a male’s voice say “hello” and saw Hil standing at the front door.

Hil apologised for the damage and asked if he could come inside. The homeowner, who refused, then filmed the housebreaker on his mobile phone.

Investigating officers found a jacket lying next to the holdall and inside was Hil’s national identity card.

Defence solicitor Gordon Martin said Hil had worked as a hairdresser in his native Poland.

“The root of his offending is an alcohol problem,” he said. “It appears he had been drinking and may arguably have entered the house by mistake. I think he was looking for a place to sleep.

“He would not appear to be a professional housebreaker or he would not have left his possessions and certainly not something as significant as his national identity card.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry said, “According to the social work report you came to this country in February this year and you have amassed a number of convictions in that short space of time.

“This may be regarded as a bungled attempt at housebreaking but you nevertheless left the house with property belonging to this man.

“This court does not regard housebreaking as anything other than an extremely serious offence.”

He jailed Hil for 15 months to run consecutively to his current jail term.

Hil was jailed for six months in Dundee on May 23 after he attacked a police officer, struck him on the body, attempted to bite him and then spat on him; all while on bail.

The court heard Hil was also previously jailed in Poland for drink-driving.

It appears he had been drinking and may arguably have entered the house by mistake. DEFENCE SOLICITOR GORDON MARTIN