A housebreaker who stole bank cards, car keys, and a couple's car in a night-time break-in was caught after stopping for a McDonalds '.
Ian Lynch, 24, took the Vauxhall Vectra SRI after breaking into the couple's home in Laurieston, Falkirk, by forcing a wooden sash window.
Falkirk Sheriff Court was today that Mari and Nigel MacKay woke to find their curtains "flapping in the wind", the window open, and the keys, car, and bank cards gone.
Police were contacted and inquiries were carried out and Lynch was caught on CCTV using Mrs MacKay's bank card at an automated check-out nearly 35 miles away at McDonalds' in Dalkeith, Midlothian.
Prosecutor Katie Cunningham said: "He was shown on CCTV driving the car to McDonalds."
The £2000 vehicle was not recovered, and Lynch told the court he did not know what had happened to it.
Lynch, of Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to theft by housebreaking and using Mrs MacKay's bank card to obtain goods from McDonalds to the value of £21.57 by fraud.
The incidents occurred on February 13th, 2019.
The court was told Lynch committed the "foolish" offences while his life was "punctuated by a strong drug addiction".
Sheriff Christopher Shead deferred sentence for reports and continued bail.
He told him: "Custody is the likely disposal in this case."
