Serial thief ransacked pensioners’ home after smashing his way in

A thief who ransacked the Perth home of two 78-year-olds and stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and electronics was jailed for more than two years yesterday.

John McGrandle was caught after leaving his fingerprints behind at the scene of two separate break-ins last year.

The serial thief targeted a second-hand car dealer in Dundee in his first theft before breaking in to the pensioners’ home weeks later.

In the Perth offence, Ian and Jane Dutch had left their home for less than three hours – but during that brief excursion McGrandle smashed his way in through a sash and case window.

He trashed every room in the house – stealing thousands of pounds worth of property and causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Depute fiscal Vicki Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court: “The couple are both aged 78 and reside there together.

“They secured the property at 1.30pm but when they returned at 4.15pm they saw the study window was smashed.

“Items were strewn about each room of the property.”

In relation to the other breakin, Miss Bell added: “When the owner came in on April 14 he discovered the CCTV had been tampered with and the office door had been forced.

“Property including five socket sets and a battery charger had been stolen, with a value of £1,600 in total.”

McGrandle, 24, a prisoner at Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges of theft by housebreaking.

The first, at Buttars Loan Service Station in Dundee, took place on April 14 last year, while the second, in Perth, took place on May 16.