A BUNGLING thief was thwarted when a jogger passed the house he had snuck into and alerted police.
Sean Van Lierop then jumped out of a first-floor window to try to escape officers after stealing a series of goods from a couple’s home — including an iPad, cash and a computer hard drive.
The 36-year-old went into John and Gina Adams’ home on Marlee Road in Broughty Ferry through the back door, and took items from various rooms.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, Van Lierop — of Ballantrae Road — was jailed for 17 months for the offence.
He also admitted two charges of police assault.
Fiscal depute Laura McPherson told the court police were in the Marlee Road area at 5.30am on June 25 last year when they were approached by a female jogger, who alerted them to the incident.
The fiscal said: “The jogger said she saw the back door of the locus slightly ajar and thought that was unusual.
“Police went immediately and saw the door ajar and the accused in the kitchen area — moving about.
“The accused saw police approach and slammed the back door shut and ran towards the front of the house.
“Mrs Adams heard the noise and woke up, and woke her husband, who went to investigate.”
Van Lierop was seen to go upstairs and when he got to the top of the stairs, Mr Adams took hold of him by the arms in an attempt to restrain him.
The fiscal continued: “Police came up and Mrs Adams was visibly distressed and pointed towards a bedroom.
“Officers went into the bedroom and saw the accused jump out of a window and into the garden.”
Van Lierop climbed into a neighbouring garden and was chased by police, shouting for him to stop.
He then tried to jump over a wall but a police officer grabbed hold of him and he lashed out — and attempted to punch the officer. Another officer sprayed Van Lierop on the face with CS gas.
He was taken to police headquarters where he was placed in a cell and later punched an officer through the hatch of the cell door.
The court heard that Van Lierop had placed various items on the kitchen unit of the home, next to the back door.
Along with the officer assaults, Van Lierop admitted that he entered a property on Marlee Road uninvited, while the occupants were sleeping, and stole a notepad, playing cards, a hard drive, an iPad, a card for the online retailer Amazon, car keys, an iPod touch, £5 cash and a wallet, on June 25 last year.