A Dundee police union boss discovered he had been targeted by a sneak thief only after returning home from voting in the independence referendum.
George McIrvine was one of a number of people who had their garages and sheds broken into by 35-year-old Michael Gallacher, who was jailed for nine months on Tuesday.
Mr McIrvine, Unison police staff branch secretary, told the Courier: “I’d left to go to the polling station at about half-six and the police van was at Barnes Avenue with the guy, but I never thought anything of it.
“When my wife left work at eight, the next door neighbour said there had been a break in to her garage.
“We found out later he’s been in our garden.
“The kid’s bike and a hedge trimmer were strewn across the garden at the top end, he’d obviously been lifting stuff over the wall and must have been disturbed.
“He was trailing my lawnmower down Downie Park Road, and because of the racket it makes on the tarmac at that time of the morning, someone heard the noise and phoned the police.”
Gallacher, of St Fillans Road, admitted four charges of theft in Old Glamis Road on September 18.
Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair told Dundee Sheriff Court that Gallacher was found by police “soaked and covered in grass”.
She added: “A large quantity of gardening equipment was found at the corner of Old Glamis Road and Barnes Avenue.”
Kevin Hampton, defending, said: “He has been out of trouble for some time.
“The catalyst was that he was staying with his brother and they fell out. He needed money for accommodation.
“He was also dabbling in the use of diazepam.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown told Gallacher: “When you break into someone’s home or outbuilding, you do two things.
“Firstly, you deprive them of property that represents hours or days that they have worked to accrue.
“Secondly, and more seriously, you cause them feelings of insecurity and vulnerability.
“I recognise you only targeted garages and sheds, not residences. However, with your background, you simply cannot afford to do that.”