A Dundee thief who raided a popular city restaurant as he tried to force his way into businesses along the length of Perth Road has been jailed for more than two years.
Ryan Simpson was snared by university CCTV after he broke into Beirut Mediterranean restaurant just after Christmas and made off with the cash register.
He failed to notice a tip jar and iPhone left in open view as he made off after ripping the till from the wall.
He was captured on CCTV leaving with the register, containing £199.50 and hiding it in a garden in nearby Airlie Place.
The 26-year-old had also tried to enter a string of other businesses on Perth Road but was unsuccessful.
While he carried out his night-time raid, he was breaching a bail curfew, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
Simpson has been remanded at Perth Prison since February 14.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Paul Brown jailed him for 25 months, backdated to Valentine’s day.
The sentence is also punishment for a string of other offences including shoplifting and breaching bail conditions.
Simpson will further be supervised once he is released from jail.
Attempted break-ins
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton previously explained all the businesses Simpson tried to enter on December 28 into December 29 were locked by the owners, some since before Christmas.
Over the course of the night, Simpson made his way along Perth Road trying to force entry into a Turkish Barbers, The Hair Warehouse and Le Freak Record Shop.
He also was seen on security footage kicking the door of Pacamara Cafe.
Simpson admitted he intended to steal from the establishments.
Simpson did manage to break into where he pilfered the cash register which contained £199.50.
Police were called when a witness walking the next morning saw till rolls trailing from Lebanese restaurant Beirut.
Inside, officers saw splits in the wood where the door had been forced but no signs of a ransack, with a tip jar and mobile phone in plain sight.
Neighbouring CCTV was checked and the till, complete with all the cash, was recovered.
In 2019, Simpson was jailed for stealing £135 worth of make-up from Boots and wept in the dock as he was sentenced.
