Community service for opportunistic theft from Arbroath man’s safe

An opportunist thief who admitted stealing over £4000 from the safe of an Arbroath man while visiting his home has avoided jail.

Television engineer Robert Mullen (39) initially told police officers that he had been given the sum by his victim to “fill somebody in” when he was interviewed regarding the January 22 incident.

The father of four had travelled to Angus from his home in Clydebank the previous evening, before he and a friend called at the house in Demondale Road.

Arbroath Sheriff Court heard that the pair began to drink with the householder and another man. On his way back from the bathroom, Mullen noticed a safe in the main bedroom.

Sheriff Derek Pyle ordered him to carry out 200 hours’ community service but warned that if he did not comply with the terms of the order he would be facing a custodial sentence