Two fraudsters switched supermarket barcodes to bag televisions worth hundreds of pounds for just 40p.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that Mathew Ferguson and Liam Gorrie took the two flat-screen sets to the self-scan checkouts at the Tesco Extra store in the city’s South Road.
Instead of scanning the barcodes and paying full price, they entered an incorrect barcode that “magically” reduced the price to just a fraction of the true cost.
The pair then put just 40 pence into the machine – around one 1200th of the actual retail price – and made off with the televisions.
They were caught when Tesco workers realised what had happened and CCTV was reviewed showing the crime being committed.
Ferguson, 21 of North Lindsay Street in Dundee, and Gorrie, 22, of Strathairlie Avenue in Arbroath, pled guilty to a charge of fraud.
Gorrie also admitted obtaining a £329 TV by the same method on a separate occasion, this time paying just 20 pence.
The court was told that Ferguson, a canvasser had no previous convictions but that Gorrie had a past criminal record that would put his liberty in jeopardy in light of this latest offence.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence until later this month for reports.
The pair were released on bail ahead of that appearance.
