A Dundee thief who broke into a popular city restaurant is behind bars after being snared by university CCTV.
Ryan Simpson forced his way into Beirut Mediterranean restaurant just after Christmas and made off with the cash register.
The bungling raider failed to notice a tip jar and iPhone left in open view and made off after ripping the register from the wall.
However, he was captured on the University of Dundee’s CCTV leaving with the register and hiding it in a garden in nearby Airlie Place.
The 26-year-old also tried to enter a string of other businesses on Perth Road but was unsuccessful.
While he carried out his night-time raid, he was breaching a bail curfew.
Simpson was brought from HMP Perth to Dundee Sheriff Court, where he pled guilty to six charges.
Perth Road businesses targeted
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton said all the businesses Simpson tried to enter overnight from December 28 to 29 were locked by the owners – some had been left since before Christmas.
Over the course of the night, Simpson made his way along Perth Road trying to force entry into a Turkish barbers, The Hair Warehouse and Le Freak Record Shop.
He also was seen on security footage kicking the door of Pacamara Cafe in a bid to get in.
Simpson admitted he intended to steal from these establishments.
He did manage to break into Lebanese restaurant Beirut, where he made off with the cash register, which contained £199.50.
Police were called when a witness walking past the next morning saw till rolls leading out of the shop.
Inside, officers saw splits in the wood where the door had been forced but no signs of a ransack, with the tip jar and mobile phone in plain sight.
Neighbouring CCTV operated by the university was checked and the till, complete with all the cash, was recovered.
Remanded
Simpson has been remanded at Perth Prison since February 14 and was further remanded by Sheriff Paul Brown for reports to be prepared.
He will return to be sentenced on November 29.
In 2019, Simpson was jailed for stealing £135 worth of make-up from Boots and wept in the dock as he was sentenced.
