Police are investigating after a workman stole expensive electronics from a Deeside flood victim – and then sold them online.
The thief, who was helping to clear out homes in Ballater in the aftermath of Storm Frank, told the man his iPad and MacBook Air laptop was water damaged beyond repair and bound for the skip.
But instead, it appears the culprit put the computer on website Gumtree – and pocketed the cash he made after selling it to an Aberdeen IT repairman.
The unwitting repairman, who regularly buys damaged items from the site to fix them and sell them on, managed to get the items working again but then realised he could not access them without a password.
The repairman, who does not wish to be named, said: “I fixed them both – spending about £200 in bits – only to find that the iPad was iCloud locked and needed the original owners info.
“I used a service to get that using the iPad’s serial number, and it came back to a guy in Ballater.”
He managed to track the owner down, but when he called to ask for his password he quickly realised he had no clue the iPad had been sold – and said the victim had told him he had thought it had gone in the skip with the rest of his damaged belongings.
The owner, who does not wish to be named, last night confirmed he had reported the incident to the police.
And a spokeswoman for the force said an investigation had been launched into the incident, which is being treated as theft by misappropriation.
The repairman said: “When I found out the stuff I bought came from a flooded house I felt sick.
“These people lost everything. To think others were trying to make money from stealing their stuff is sickening.
“I’ve lost a heap of money, but compared to the people that lost their houses, it’s nothing.”
Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
