Two thieves who stole more than £2,000 worth of electrical appliances from a Galashiels store, were each jailed for nine months.
The pair, who had travelled from Lanarkshire to commit the offence, were stopped by police some 17 miles north of Galashiels with their haul.
A vigilant member of the public was suspicious of a white van parked outside Curry’s store around 8.30pm and alerted police.
Thirty-six-year-old Jason Robertson of Forgewood Road, and William Irwin, 54, of Jerviston Court, both Motherwell, appeared from custody and admitted stealing from the Comely Bank store last Thursday. Their haul of washing machines and tumble driers, worth £2,390, was fully recovered.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how the store had been locked and secured at 8.20pm.
She explained: “There is a large storage container at the rear of the premises, secured by a large padlock.
“At 8.40pm a witness saw people removing items from the container and putting them into a large transit van.
“Concerned that these were being stolen, he reported matters to the police.
“The alarm at the premises had already been activated and although police attended immediately, the van had left.
“A description was circulated and at 9.25pm police spotted a van matching the description on the A7 about 17 miles north of Galashiels.”
The vehicle, driven by Robertson, was stopped, with Irwin in the passenger seat.
When the van was searched, the stolen washing machines and tumble driers were recovered.
Both men were arrested, and made no reply to caution. Defence solicitor Matt Patrick conceded Robertson’s record showed a number of offences of dishonesty.
“His last analogous conviction was in 2007,” said Mr Patrick, “and there has been a significant reduction in his offending recently.”
Mr Patrick said his client’s previous offending was to fund a gambling problem.
Irwin’s solicitor said her client, like his co-accused, was no longer working and the crime was committed “due to low finances”.
Sheriff Jamie Gilmour told both men: “This was an organised trip to the Borders to commit theft and to return to Lanarkshire with stolen items.
“Had it not been for the diligence of a witness, you may not have been stopped.
“There is no alternative to custody for this offence.”