A crack cocaine addict from Dundee stole a nurse’s car from Ninewells hospital while she was treating patients.
During an extraordinary 60-day crime spree, John Forbes also stole charity cash, robbed Dundee homes and made off in other cars as he averaged one crime every 40 hours throughout the eight-week period.
Forbes – described as a talented artist – admitted a six-page indictment detailing 36 crimes when he appeared in the dock at Dundee Sheriff Court.
It is understood the 42-year-old had been investigated in connection with more than 80 offences during the period between May 20 and July 18 last year.
Fiscal depute Lynn Mannion praised him for holding up his hands to 36 offences across various parts of Scotland.
She told the court: “The accused has saved the Crown a lot of work by negotiating pleas at the earliest opportunity.”
Cars, charity and care home targeted
Ms Mannion said Forbes’ spree started on May 20 when he snatched a staff member’s bag in a care home and used their keys to steal their Nissan Micra car.
Forbes then stole a Vauxhall Corsa in Dundee less than 48 hours later and stole a laptop during a sneak-in theft in Forfar.
The stolen Corsa was spotted in Dumfries on May 24 and Forbes was arrested.
He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court but was released on bail.
On 5 June, he jemmied open a locked filing cabinet inside Dundee City Church and three days later stole charity boxes from a veterinary practice in the city.
He stole the keys to a Land Rover Freelander and used it as a getaway vehicle as he tried to carry out a number of frauds over the following days.
Another victim realised she had been targeted after receiving an app notification from her Ring video doorbell during the early hours of the morning.
The footage showed Forbes creeping around outside at 4.52 am.
One victim came face-to-face with Forbes in her home and he ran off down the street when she screamed at him.
He was caught on CCTV driving the stolen Freelander, despite being banned.
Stole nurse’s car
Forbes crime spree showed no signs of slowing and on July 9, he sneaked into Ninewells Hospital and stole a charge nurse’s £21,000 Toyota CHR while she was working.
Ms Mannion said: “She parked her car and left her bag in the staff area on the ward.
“A health care assistant saw a male acting suspiciously.
“They followed him and he ran off.
“They went to the staff area and found the bag was missing.
“The nurse found her car had been stolen.
“CCTV footage showed him driving the vehicle on Tay Bridge.”
The following day, Forbes broke into a 91-year-old woman’s home in St Andrews and was filmed by the CCTV system set up by her family to monitor her safety as she lived alone.
On July 12, Forbes was caught red-handed in another house but managed to escape after persuading the owners that he had mistaken it for a bed & breakfast he was looking for.
‘Crippled’ by addiction
Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, said: “He accepts custody is inevitable.
This was clearly a sustained crime spree between May 20 and July 18.
“He negotiated pleas in relation to unmarked cases, which has saved the Crown significant preparation and the public considerable expense.
“He is remorseful, apologetic and ashamed of the behaviour he was involved in.
“He was crippled by an extremely pernicious drug addiction.”
Mr Laverty told the court his client was hooked on cocaine addiction but is a “talented artist” who hopes to use his skill to become a positive member of society.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence for background reports and he was remanded in custody.
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