Community hub targeted by thief after charity fund-raiser

 

 

A Kirkcaldy community centre was targeted by a thief after a charity event was held there in the run-up to Christmas.

Money raised for good causes was stolen along with computer equipment by Michael Wilson, who wanted the cash to feed his drug addiction.

He removed the hard drive from a CCTV device but then threw it away in the street. It was found and given to police, helping to identify Wilson as the culprit.

He had only been released from jail a few days before before he struck at the Kirkcaldy centre run by volunteers.

Wilson (39), currently a prisoner at Perth, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on 3rd December he broke into Hayfield Community Centre, Hayfield Road and stole a quantity of computer equipment and a sum of money.

He also admitted that on 8th December at Co-op, Lauder Road, Kirkcaldy, he stole a quantity of groceries.

Depute fiscal Ron Hay said a charity event had been held at the community centre just before the break-in and the proceeds had been locked in a filing cabinet.

The premises had been secured at 1pm on 2nd December but the following morning a staff member arrived at 6.30am and found a door unlocked.

It appeared that a fire door had been jemmied open and the thief had stolen two laptop computers, each valued at £500, as well as £600 in cash.

The hard drive of a CCTV recording device had also been removed.

Later, this hard drive was found on a pavement two streets away by a member of the public who was aware of the break-in.

She handed it in to the police and although the drive was water damaged, officers were able to view video from the time of the break-in.

It showed Wilson walking down a lane next to the centre at 12.08am and then hiding behind bins as vehicles passed.

He then walked towards the rear fire exit and at 12.35am the video ended with the hard drive being removed.

Defence solicitor David Bell admitted his client had a “significant record of similar offending”.

He said Wilson had a history of drug misuse and at the time of these offences was taking heroin and crack cocaine.

“He was trying to raise funds to pay for this addiction,” he added. “Having gone to the trouble of taking the hard drive it was then found abandoned on a path, which was not the smartest move and perhaps an indication of his condition at the time.”

Wilson had only been released from jail in November.

Sheriff Pino di Emidio jailed Wilson for 22 months backdated to 16th December when he was taken into custody.

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.