A THIEF who stole the only copy of a student’s dissertation but was caught when an iPhone app tracked his movements has been told he’s in the “last chance saloon”.
Robert Tolmie carried out two thefts in Dundee on either August 1 or August 2.
He first broke into a portable cabin in Broughty Ferry Road owned by Azam Salimi and stole a £1,400 road bike.
Tolmie then stole items from a campervan parked at St Roque’s Lane, which had been parked there by Ronnie Kim and Jakob Feigl.
The St Andrews University students had gone to the city for a night out and returned at 3am to find the items missing.
Mr Feigl, an Austrian national, then activated the “Find my iPhone” app and found it last been switched on at homeless accommodation in Dundee where Tolmie was staying.
Police then watched CCTV footage which showed Tolmie — who has multiple previous convictions for theft and supplying drugs — arriving at the hostel with Mr Salimi’s bike.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson said: “The bicycle stolen remains unrecovered and its value is approximately £1,400. Two iPhones, valued at £760, a laptop valued at £1,500 and a hard drive from the campervan remain unrecovered.
“The monetary value of the hard drive is approximately £70 but its true value is obviously much higher given it contained the only copy of Mr Feigl’s dissertation.”
Tolmie, 29, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges of theft.
Anne Duffy, defending, said: “He was thrown out by his girlfriend and ended up in hostel accommodation. That led to illicit substance use and he has little recollection of the offences he has pleaded guilty to.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred sentence for a drug treatment and testing order report and released Tolmie on bail. He said: “This is the last chance saloon. If you don’t co-operate you’ll be back here at square one with a high chance of a custodial sentence.”