Two Dundee men who embarked on a four-week crime spree in the Highlands and stole five cars worth more than £100,000 have been jailed.
Andrew Craigie, 30, and Andrew Gardiner, 38, appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted five charges between them.
The court heard how the stolen vehicles were eventually recovered at various addresses in Dundee.
The first thefts occurred on June 29 2019 at Culloden Car Sales on Barn Church Road, Inverness.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Sara Matheson that the yard was locked by a security guard who checked it again in the early hours of the following morning.
Mr Weir said: “He noticed the dark-coloured Range Rover was missing from the entrance. Then he noted a set of car keys lying on the ground, picked them up and used his set of keys to enter the office.
“He discovered the side window had been smashed and reported it to the police.”
Three cars – a Ford Focus RS worth £20,995, the Range Rover valued at £29,995 and a Mercedes CLA with a price tag of £18,495 – were missing.
The Range Rover was recovered from a nearby street and it had Craigie’s DNA on the gear stick.
The Mercedes was traced to a street in Dundee the following evening. The Ford was also later recovered.
The car thieves’ next target was Top Car dealership in the city’s Harbour Road, which was hit on July 2.
The padlock and chain to the forecourt were cut and two vehicles – an Audi A6 worth £18,995 and an Audi A5 costing £11,995 – were stolen, along with other items including an iPad and a Dyson vacuum cleaner.
Again, the vehicles were found in Dundee – the A6 later the same day and the A5 in Yarrow Terrace, near Craigie’s home on July 8.
Craigie had been seen in the vehicle earlier and its number plate had been changed.
Craigie admitted both housebreakings to steal the vehicles.
Pair laughed as they were sentenced
His co-accused Gardiner also pleaded guilty to breaking into premises in the Dalfaber Industrial Estate, Aviemore, on July 11. Two safes containing £1,500 were stolen.
He also admitted trying to break into the shop and post office at the Dalwhinnie Filling Station on July 26 2019 and Harry Gow’s bakery outlet in North Kessock later that same day.
Both laughed as they left the dock after being sentenced by Sheriff Matheson.
Craigie was jailed for 30 months and Gardiner for 25 months.
