Where the thieves are not court in the act

Published on Monday 31 December 2007 20:45

LAPTOPS, cat food and an airline ticket are among dozens of items stolen from Scotland's courts in the last two years, it has been revealed.

Even being under the very nose of the law does not deter some light-fingered criminals from striking, according to details obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Though court buildings bustle with police officers and visitors have to pass through security checks to enter many premises, thieves have not been discouraged. Those in the Strathclyde Police force area have proved the most brazen, swiping 24 items last year and 30 the previous year.

One fashion-conscious thief stole denim trousers, a shirt and boots from Dumbarton Sheriff Court, while cat food, slippers and bread were taken from Kilmarnock.

A thief, perhaps hoping to make a quick getaway, stole an airline ticket from Paisley Sheriff Court, while mobile phones and cash were popular targets.

Courts in the Lothian and Borders force area were also popular targets for audacious thieves, with 17 thefts in 2006/07 and 18 in the previous year.

Last year, a computer was taken from Edinburgh Sheriff Court, while in 2005/06 a DVD recorder and two flat-screen monitors were smuggled out.

Thirteen of the thefts were solved in 2005/06 and six in 2006/07. In Aberdeen, five items were taken between 2005/06, including two laptops, while the following year a mobile phone was lifted.