Hapless thief facing jail for doomed theft captured on camera

Crime: Ex-soldier was caught in the act twice on CCTV

A hapless career thief had both his latest crimes and his forlorn attempts to cash in his stolen loot captured on camera.

Andrew Shaw was first recorded in high definition on a private CCTV system as he robbed cars in Manson Crescent, metres from the wall of Perth Prison.

Hours later his image was being burned to disk once again as he attempted to trade two high-value iPods for enough money to score a heroin fix.

He has already been returned to prison to await sentencing for the latest in a long line of crimes of dishonesty.

Shaw, 30, was once a soldier but since leaving the military has descended into drug addiction, theft and fire-raising.

His latest misdemeanours took place in January, just a few months after his release from a two-year prison sentence imposed following a spate of earlier thefts.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the owners of a house in the city’s Manson Terrace had left iPods worth an estimated £350 in clear view within vehicles parked in their driveway.

That proved too tempting a target for the passing Shaw who had fallen back into heroin use and was struggling with his personal life.

He was captured on the householders’ security cameras as he rummaged through the vehicles.

The police were contacted and they were able to take clear images of Shaw from the footage.

His victims made a swift visit to a number of city centre shops where items can be traded for money and passed on to staff a description of the accused.

Within hours that quick thinking had paid off as Shaw popped into one of the stores in the hope of securing a payout.

One suspicious member of staff processed his transaction while another called the police, while ensuring CCTV was again trained on him.

Staff asked him to return with photographic ID and police were waiting when he returned a short time later.

Shaw admitted two charges of stealing iPods from insecure cars in Manson Terrace on January 28.

Solicitor David Holmes admitted his client had difficulties but asked the court to consider seeking a report from social workers before sentencing him.

Sheriff William Wood agreed to defer sentence for reports, though he said he did so “with some hesitation”.

“I make no promises,” he said. “Jail is at the forefront of my mind.”

Sentence was deferred until May 9. Shaw was remanded in custody.

Caught red-handed: Andrew Shaw.