Thief snared after loot offered for sale to victim

Mechanic who had equipment stolen was asked to buy it from thief’s brother

A thief was caught after goods he had stolen were offered for sale back to the victim.

The shocked mechanic was asked in a phone call if he would be interested in buying a car diagnostic kit, just hours after discovering his lock-up garage had been targeted.

He asked for details of the equipment and it soon became clear he was being asked to purchase his own property.

Police were contacted and inquiries quickly led them to the thief, Lee Mathieson. He had gone on a crime spree in rural Fife, claiming his aim was to pay for his dad’s funeral.

He broke into premises, stealing computers, garden equipment and a car, carrying out the thefts within days of each other.

Mathieson, 25, of North Street, Kettlebridge, admitted the offences, which all took place in 2015.

On September 1 at Colmar, Langside Road, Kennoway, he stole two handbags, a multi-tool and a strimmer.

The next day at Ladybank Premier Stores, Cupar, by using a bank card he stole £500 from an ATM.

On September 8 or 9, he broke into Orkie Mill House, Kingskettle, and stole a computer and television, as well as a laptop, diagnostic kit, polisher/sander, electric nail/staple gun and a car.

Whilst acting with another person, he then broke into premises in Kettlebridge, and stole a laptop.

Depute fiscal Kirin Uppal told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the victim in the first incident was a 58-year-old woman.

The next premises targeted by Mathieson was a house in Kingskettle. There he stole a laptop and a TV.

Mathieson then entered a lock-up garage where he stole a Hyundai car and a laptop.

Also taken were a polisher valued at £300, a £100 diagnostic kit.

The next target was a plant hire company in Kettlebridge where a laptop was taken from a portable cabin.

The same day, police received a call regarding the stolen car which had been left in a lay-by near Kennoway. That day the man who had items stolen from the lock-up received a phone call about a car he was advertising for sale.

As they talked, the caller – Danny Mathieson – asked the man if he was a mechanic and when he confirmed he was, he was asked if he would like to buy a car diagnostic kit.

The information was passed to police and when they went to the home of Danny Mathieson – brother of Lee – with a warrant, he gave them one of the laptops, the diagnostic kit and the nail-gun.

Lee Mathieson was identified from CCTV video from the plant hire firm.

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said: “He was worried about the cost of arranging his father’s funeral. He planned to sell these items to pay for the funeral.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair Mathieson for 20 months. nail-gun and the jailed

Lee Mathieson was jailed for 20 months for a spate of thefts.