Ex-employees fleece Dumfries garage

Sep 26 2008 by Our Correspondant, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE SHERIFF at Dumfries has heard that security was not a hindrance for two men who broke into a filling station in the town and stole more than £6,600.

For it was stated that both were former employees at the Esso Petrol Station at Heathhall and knew the various security codes.

In the dock 23-year-old James Guenther, of Clochrie Court, and 21-year-old Thomas Renwick, of Stewartry Road, both Dumfries, admitted breaking into the filling station in January by means of a true key and stealing £6,690.

The court was told by depute procurator fiscal Jennifer McGill that, after leaving the employment, Guenther returned his set of keys, but Renwick, who left after a disagreement, had retained his keys and both knew the access security codes in the premises and sets of keys for safes were kept in the office.

The theft was discovered after security men arrived to take the previous day’s takings and it was found money was missing.

The CCTV tape was found to have been taken out and another put in showing nothing of what had taken place during the night.

Suspicion fell on both men and Guenther went to the police station and confessed producing more than £700 and stating further cash of over £2,000 was at his home.

Renwick also admitted his part in the theft and had £2,980 in his possession.

Solicitors for the two men claimed it had been a spur of the moment decision when they had gone to the filling station to get something to eat and now realised how stupid they had been.

They didn’t dispute the amount stated but could not explain a shortfall of £790 in the amount recovered.

Sheriff Kenneth Ross ordered each to carry out 300 hours community service and pay compensation of £395.

He commented that he could not understand why the security codes had not been reviewed when employees left.