Bo'ness thief cycled away with vacuum cleaner and smashed shop window with hammer

Brian Krupa, 1D Park Lane, Bo’ness, narrowly avoided being jailed when he appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday.

The 41-year-old had pleaded guilty to a series of offences which began on March 29, 2020 in Links Court, Bo’ness when he forced open two locked vehicles by smashing windows with an unknown object with intent to steal.

Krupa struck again on March 30 when he hit and damaged a store window in South Street, Bo’ness. He also admitted being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a hammer, without reasonable excuse in Links Road, Bo’ness.

He then made off with a vacuum cleaner on May 19, 2020 after entering an insecure vehicle in Links Road.

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Krupa also admitted being in the curtilage of a property that day without lawful authority to be there so that, in all the circumstances, it may be reasonably inferred he intended to commit theft.

Detailing the March 30 incident, procurator fiscal depute Heather Galbraith said: “At approximately 3.15am, witnesses were within their home address.

“They were awoken by the sound of smashing glass outside. They looked outside and observed the accused to be striking a window of an optician’s shop with what was an unknown object at the time, causing it to smash.

“The accused was tracked by police and freely disclosed he caused it to smash and had a hammer in his pocket.”

The court was told a witness caught Krupa in the act on May 19 after receiving a notification from a CCTV system which alerted the witness to a “motion detection at the locus”.

The fiscal depute continued: “The witness looked at the CCTV and saw the accused enter the industrial estate.

“He then tried to open doors of vehicles within the car park. He entered the rear of the witness’ white van and removed his hoover. He then cycled away with the hoover.

“The value was £124 and there was a full recovery.”

Gordon Addison, defence solicitor, described his client’s intellectual capacity as “minimal”.

Mr Addison said: “Ongoing help is in place.

“He’s not got an inconsiderable record – which has built up over a number of years.

“He’s made himself something of a nuisance to the community, perhaps because he’s not managed himself very well and we’ve not managed him very well.

“Some of it is attention-seeking behaviour.

“He has no one and has no support. We’ve contacted social services and they come to him three times a week.”

The solicitor told Sheriff Derek Hamilton that Krupa pleaded guilty to the crimes at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Addison said his client claimed to have stopped abusing “hard drugs”.

He added: “My own view is he will continue to offend.

“Until very recently he was abusing drugs to a very large extent. “

Sheriff Hamilton placed Krupa on a structured deferred sentence for six months and ordered him to be of good behaviour.

He said: “You’re getting a final chance here.

“It’s not the end of the road for you because if you offend again you’re going into custody for a significant period.”

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