An opportunist thief admitted brazenly stealing £29,000 worth of diamond rings from a Renfrewshire jewellery shop.
Edward Burnside acted alongside another male, Jack Duff, 19, when they targeted the Ernest Jones outlet at Braehead Shopping Centre in August 2023.
He waited until sales staff were dealing with other customers before taking the chance to pinch several diamond rings from the eternities counter. The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing the jewellery.
Procurator fiscal depute Matt Piskorz told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 5.45pm on Monday, August 21, 2023, the accused and another male entered the Ernest Jones store.
“The accused’s accomplice walked towards the Michael Kor’s cabinet at the rear of the store while the accused hovered around the front door area.
“At this time, Ms Blyth, who was working as a sales associate at the time, spoke with the accused’s accomplice who stated, ‘just looking’.
“A short time later, Ms Blyth then spoke with another customer. During this time, the accused approached the eternities cabinet, reached underneath and pulled open a drawer.
“He then removed several diamond rings and concealed them within his pockets before being joined by his accomplice who also removed several items.
“The accused and the male then walked away from the cabinet towards the door. The accused’s accomplice then returned to the cabinet and removed further items and left the drawer open.
“Burnside pushed his accomplice to go back and close the drawer and both then left the store. Around 10 minutes later, Ms Blyth noted the cabinet to be ajar. She attended at the cabinet and noted an unknown quantity of stock to be missing.
“The manager of the store was notified and she contacted the police. Police later viewed the CCTV and the accused was
identified.”
The court heard a total of 25 rings worth £29,000 were stolen and these items were never recovered. Defence agent Mr Kilpatrick told the court: “Reports will be necessary given he is not yet 21. There is no motion for bail.”
Sheriff Andrew Berry deferred sentence until March 14 for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment. Burnside, described as a prisoner of HMP Polmont, was remanded in custody meantime.
In October last year, the Paisley Daily Express told how Duff admitted he acted alongside Burnside during the incident.
At a subsequent sentencing hearing, the teenager’s defending agent Ms Docherty told the court Duff cares for his daughter.
She added: “He is now also employed. He was taken on in the spring on a work experience placement but since September he has been full-time with his employer as a landscaper.
“He is currently working in Bridge of Weir and has turned his life around. He is now 19 and has taken responsibility for this and pleaded at an early opportunity.
“Another positive is, although he lives with his mother who is fully supportive of him, he is back in a relationship with his partner.”
Sheriff Amel Elfallah stated: “This was a high value and a serious theft.”
She ordered Duff to wear a tag – keeping him within his Leithland Road home in Glasgow between 8pm and 7am – for six months.
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