Bristol thief stole police laptop

A thief has been jailed after pilfering a laptop while being interviewed at a Bristol police station.

David Furber, 27, was attending a Criminal Justice Integrated Team (CJIT) appointment at Trinity Road police station when he was asked if he would like a hot drink.

While the interviewers were out of the room Furber disconnected a £600 Dell laptop and put it inside his jacket before calmly carrying on the rest of the appointment and leaving the building.

The laptop's disappearance was only spotted later and after CCTV had been viewed he was identified as the thief and arrested.

Yesterday at Bristol Magistrates' Court Furber pleaded guilty to stealing the laptop on June 8. He had also already admitted stealing two electric shavers and shaving gel from Boots in Avon Meads on May 29.

Annaphie Rogers, prosecuting, said: "It was 4pm on June 8 and he had an interview with CJIT. The interviewer left the room to make him a hot drink. Whilst they were out of the room the defendant detached the unit from the mains and concealed it under his jacket.

"The interviewer finished the interview and Furber then left with the computer still under his jacket. It was not until June 12 that an employee realised it was missing and reported it.

"CCTV showed him taking the computer, concealing it in his jacket and he was later arrested in Castle Street where he admitted the offence and said he had sold it for £50. He tested positive for heroin and cocaine."

Anna Van Whey, defending, said her client had a long-term problem with drugs and realised he was facing jail for the offences. "He couldn't resist the temptation," she said.

Magistrates jailed Furber, of Wade Street, St Jude's, for three weeks for taking the laptop and a week consecutively for stealing from Boots.