Two workers at the Amazon site in Dunfermline became involved in a “workplace culture” of stealing, a court has heard.
Aaron Brown, 34, of Hill Street, and Alexander Proctor, 22, of Main Street, both Lochgelly, previously admitted that on December 7 last year at Amazon they stole a quantity of electronic games.
It was accepted by the Crown the men were acting individually and not together. Both men lost their jobs as a result.
The court heard that last November staff at Amazon became aware a number of console games were unaccounted for and some had been found in the incorrect storage bins.
A concealed camera was installed to investigate and video footage showed both men putting games in a storage bin and moving them to another bin without scanning them.
A spot search was then carried out on both men. Brown was in possession of three games with a total value of £88 and Proctor also had three valued at £125.
Sarah Meehan, solicitor for Brown, said her client had worked at Amazon for three years and his job involved scanning items before placing them in a box.
“The motivation was financial,” she said.
“The offence took place shortly prior to Christmas and he was struggling financially.
“He intended to sell them.”
Ms Meehan added there was a “culture within the workplace” over her client’s three years at Amazon and because of this “he thought he would get away with it”.
Chris Sneddon, representing Proctor, said his client took “full responsibility” and was “clearly embarrassed”.
Sheriff Charles Macnair said: “It seems to me it was fortunate you were caught as it would appear from what I’ve been told this was a relatively easy offence to commit,” he added.
Community payback orders with 300 hours of unpaid work were imposed.