A would-be thief was foiled three times – and even thanked one of his targets for calling the police on him.
Over a three-week period last winter, Robert Fraser walked the streets of Peterhead looking for property to steal.
The 34-year-old failed on each occasion – all in bizarre circumstances.
In the end he was caught before he could steal anything and admitted three counts of intent to commit theft when he appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday.
Fraser had been due to appear at the same court in January, but failed to show up.
During Monday’s hearing, Sheriff Robert McDonald ordered Fraser to do 152 hours of unpaid work.
‘It’s Robbie, can you phone the coppers?’
The court heard the bizarre circumstances in which Fraser, of Grange Gardens, appeared at each of the three homes towards the end of 2024.
On October 29, Fraser targeted two houses on West Road in the port before turning his attention to another property on Forman Drive on November 23.
Fiscal depute Claire Stewart said, at the first home on West Road, a woman was in the shower when she heard a rapping at the window at about 11pm.
Mr Stewart said: “She felt scared as a result of this.
“Her mother then shouted through the front door asking who was there.”
It was at this point that Fraser knew his attempt to enter the property had been foiled.
The court heard he told the woman inside the home: “It’s Robbie, can you phone the coppers?”
Mr Stewart added: “The woman advised she had contacted the police – to which the accused replied ‘thank you’.”
Ring doorbell footage captured the moment Fraser left the area – but he did not go far.
Shortly afterwards, Fraser tried to steal from another property on the same street – but those efforts always went south.
The court heard how, as Fraser moved towards the property, he was confronted by the homeowner and his dogs.
According to Mr Stewart, when Fraser heard the dogs getting nearer and barking loudly, he said: “F*** that” and left the area.
‘I’m being chased’
Then on November 23, Fraser went to another property at around 8.20am.
The property owner came out to find Fraser stood on his garage roof carrying a tool used for scraping weeds.
When confronted, Fraser said: “Sorry bud, I’m being chased.”
The homeowner told him to leave and so Fraser made his way through a neighbouring garden and left.
Fraser was later charged with the three offences, which he admitted.
His defence agent, Leonard Burkinshaw, said his client’s last convictions came about three years ago.
“It has been some time since he got into bother,” he said.
“He was asking, certainly the first person, to call the police.
“My client felt he needed assistance in any event, and I think that is highlighted in the report.”
As well as the unpaid work, Sheriff McDonald also imposed a one-year supervision order on Fraser, saying the sentencing was a “direct alternative” to jail time.