A thief broke into a Nisa store through the roof, filled a bin with thousands of pounds of alcohol and cigarettes and told a staff member “don’t worry, I’m leaving”.
Lee Paterson managed to break into the George Street store via a skylight and ceiling panels, before getting into the stockroom and raiding alcohol cabinets.
The 33-year-old loaded a large grey bin with more than £3,500 of alcohol and cigarettes before being confronted by a member of staff, who had arrived to open the store in the morning.
Undeterred, the brazen thief told the woman not to worry and left, shedding more than half of his loot as he went.
A narrative of events read in court said the store was closed and secured around 10.05pm on April 2.
Cabinets forced open
At 7.35am the next morning, a member of staff arrived at work and heard a bang from the stockroom area.
The narrative said: “On opening the door to the stockroom, she saw the accused who stated ‘don’t worry, I’m leaving’, or words to that effect.
“The accused was struggling with a grey bin that contained alcohol bottles and cigarette
packets.
“The accused exited through the back fire door taking the grey bin with him.”
It was noted there were wires hanging from the roof of the shop and it was established Paterson had “initially entered through a skylight in the roof and then through panels in the ceiling”.
Total of £1,649 worth of alcohol and tobacco products outstanding
Police were contacted.
When officers arrived they found a secure padlock to the alcohol store room had been damaged and a number of cabinets forced open.
A stock check confirmed that the total value of the stolen property was £3,579.29.
However, £1,930.29 worth of goods were dropped by Paterson as he left and recovered by staff.
A total of £1,649 worth of alcohol and tobacco products was never found and the cost of the damage to the shop is unknown.
Paterson, of Greig Court, Aberdeen, pled guilty to theft by housebreaking, as well as a separate charge of reset of stolen goods.
Sheriff Ian Wallace deferred sentence on Paterson for a drug treatment and testing order assessment to be carried out.
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