A car thief with a staggering history of driving offences was caught behind the wheel of a pick-up truck towing a stolen Mercedes Benz.
The luxury motor had been reported missing hours earlier, after thieves crept into the owner’s home at Almondbank, by Perth, to steal the keys.
Police spotted the car on the back of a flat-bed recovery truck, travelling down the A9 and M80.
Truck driver Kevin Hogg initially told police he had picked up the Mercedes as part of a breakdown recovery service.
The 30-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court this week and admitted stealing the car, while acting with others, from the driveway of a house at Mackenzie Drive on January 16.
He also admitted driving without insurance and while disqualified, having been banned from the road for eight years in 2020.
Car disappeared from driveway
Fiscal depute Alistair McDermid said Hogg had a “lengthy” criminal record with 20 convictions for driving while disqualified.
“He also has a previous conviction for theft of a motor vehicle and for attempted housebreaking with intent to steal.”
Mr McDermid told the court the grey Mercedes A220 was parked in the driveway of the owner’s home at about 2pm on January 15.
The keys were dropped in a bowl on a kitchen worktop.
The owner and his wife went out that evening but returned after midnight.
They noticed their vehicle was still in the drive when they got back.
“The car owner’s wife put her house keys in the back of the door but she was unsure whether the door was locked before she went to bed,” said Mr McDermid.
“The window of the master bedroom was left slightly ajar to let fresh air in.”
The car’s owner woke at around 8am the next day.
“He opened the blinds on his bedroom window and instantly noticed that the car was no longer in the driveway,” the fiscal depute said.
“It had been raining the night before and there were dry patches in the driveway where the car had been sitting.”
Police search
Mr McDermid said: “The owner went into the kitchen and noticed the keys to the vehicle were missing.”
The court heard there was no signs of forced entry and nothing else appeared to be missing.
“At around 10am, police officers attended and carried out an area search and door-to-door inquiries,” the prosecutor said.
“The owner posted about the stolen vehicle on Facebook and, at about 2pm, a member of the public telephoned the police to say she had seen the Mercedes in Crieff.
“She recognised the registration number from the social media post.”
Mr McDermid said: “It was reported that several males were putting the car on to a flatbed pick-up truck.”
Number plate taped over
Later, officers sitting in an unmarked police car at the Keir Roundabout on the A9 spotted a recovery truck carrying the grey Mercedes.
“It came from the direction of Dunblane and was heading towards Bridge of Allan,” said the fiscal depute.
“Officers attempted to follow it, but it was soon lost to sight.”
The truck was later spotted by traffic police driving south on the M80.
Part of the Mercedes’ registration plate was hidden by black tape, the court heard.
Officers followed the truck as it turned off the M80, towards Castlecary.
“The vehicle came to a stop on its own accord,” said Mr McDermid.
“Officers approached the truck and the driver, Kevin Hogg, was handcuffed and removed from the driver’s seat.
“He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.”
Hogg, from Cumbernauld, was arrested and the keys for the Mercedes were found in his back pocket.
‘Recovery service’
He was interviewed by police and initially gave “no comment” responses.
But he later explained that he had been called to pick up the vehicle as part of a breakdown recovery service.
“He said he did not know that the car was stolen and that he had not been further north than Bridge of Allan,” said Mr McDermid.
“He said the driver of the Mercedes was a male, who he only knew as John.”
Hogg’s DNA was later found on the tape covering the number plate and inside the vehicle.
Sheriff Euan Duthie deferred sentence for background reports until July 14.
