A career criminal called Crook stole alcohol worth £1500 from a masonic hall days after ransacking a Coatbridge firm’s offices.
John Paul Crook, of Coatbridge, has a record of offending that spans 30 years and has notched up 66 convictions during that time.
He admitted breaking into TES Electrical in Hornock Road on February 27 last year.
Crook, 46, also admitted raiding Lodge St Andrew 544 in Wood Street, Coatbridge, on March 6 or 7 while on bail.
Flora McCamley, prosecuting, told Airdrie Sheriff Court that CCTV showed Crook climbing over the electrical company’s perimeter fence in the early hours.
He spent more than an hour on the premises before leaving, having stolen petty cash, bank and fuel cards and keys for vehicles and outbuildings.
Ms McCamley added: “The office building was extensively damaged, with the cost being approximately £7000.
“Police officers recognised Crook from the CCTV footage.”
Days later Crook broke into the masonic hall and stole alcohol from a locked storeroom. His DNA was found on a door.
Sheriff Tony McGlennan deferred sentence until next month for background reports.
Crook, of St James’s Way, had been held in custody since his arrest in August but the sheriff gave him bail, saying he wants to see how he gets on with a community payback order imposed at the same court last month.
The sheriff told him: “My desire is to try to deter you from the persistent offending that has affected the community in the past.
“All sentencing options remain open.”
Defence agent Paul Belardo said: “It’s up to him to improve his behaviour and gain the trust of the court.”
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