A bungling thief who broke into the flat of a vulnerable pensioner and stole £3,4000 worth of goods was foiled after leaving a discarded beer bottle at the scene of the crime.
Clark Bowie, 42, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday after pleading guilty to stealing jewellery and a purse from a flat on Argyll Place.
Bowie targeted the home of an 83-year-old woman in the early hours of February 22.
Fiscal, Katy Begg, said: “At around 1.20am she was woken by a noise and found him crouched in the bedroom, and he quickly exited.
“She contacted her son who then called the police.”
It was noted that items of jewellery had been taken and purse contents stolen, as well as a jar of cash containing £80.
In total, Bowie made off with £3,410 worth of stolen goods.
But the thief had also left behind a beer bottle at the flat, which police were able to take DNA samples from and arrest him.
Bowie also pleaded guilty to stealing computer games, a console and medication from a property on Frederick Street between 8.40am and 12.20pm on February 13.
Ms Begg said the homeowner found that “items had been moved and drawers had been rummaged in”.
The man’s gaming equipment had been taken by Bowie, with the stolen console worth £275 and stolen games worth £40.
The 42-year-old accused, whose address was given as HMP Grampian, then went to a nearby Game shop and sold the equipment for £140.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin deferred sentence until next month in order to obtain reports.
