Three young thugs have admitted breaking into numerous Paisley businesses and stealing charity tins and money.
Callous Cameron Paterson, Blair Dryden and Dylan McLeod all broke into Ralston Community Centre and Paisley Pre-Fives Centre in September 2019.
Paterson, of Honeybog Road in Glasgow, stole two charity tins and money from Happy Smiles dental surgery between September 18 and September 19, 2019.
Other businesses targeted by the bandits included Jenny’s Well Nursery and a nursery in Glasgow.
Procurator fiscal depute Jason Stark told Paisley Sheriff Court that 19-year-old Paterson broke into Happy Smiles dental surgery in the town’s Glasgow Road in September 2019. Mr Stark explained: “On September 18, 2019, the premises was locked and secured.
“At 8.25am the following morning, Ms McIntosh opened the premises and noted the rear patio door had been broken with a large rock and the rear wooden door had been kicked in leaving boot prints.
“Ms McIntosh noted that the ground floor reception had been ransacked and a screwdriver had been stabbed into a leather chair damaging it and leaving the handle of the screwdriver sticking out.
“It was noticed that the petty cash tins had been burst open and the contents removed alongside a motor neurone disease charity tin, and another charity tin of the Accord Hospice had been squashed open with the contents removed.
“Various drawers and cupboards had been opened upstairs and their contents ransacked. Police were contacted and attended.”
Mr Stark explained to the court how the sick trio broke into Ralston Community Centre on September 19 and stole more charity tins and a quantity of money from the petty cash boxes.
The court also heard how 18-year-old Dryden, of Ashmore Road in Glasgow, broke into Jenny’s Well Nursery and stole money on September 19, 2019.
Mr Stark added: “The property was locked and secured on September 18.
“At 1.20am on September 19, unidentified suspects approached the nursery and gained entry by smashing a window. While within, a safe box which was located within the manager’s office, was forced open and £150 taken from within. The suspects then fled.”
The court was then told how the troublesome trio targeted Paisley Pre-Fives Centre in Stow Street on September 29, 2019, and yet again stole money.
Mr Stark said: “At 5am on Sunday, September 29, Dryden, McLeod and Paterson attended and forced entry by kicking out a panel at the front door.
“They all enter and ransack the locus and use a brush to break through to an office area making off with £50 in cash. This incident was captured on CCTV.
“About 8am on Monday, September 30, the witness Gilmore returns to the locus and observes a window pane of the back door to be smashed. Gilmore contacted police at this time and the witness Morrison arrives.
“Both enter and observe damage to the internal office door, with the window pane smashed. Paperwork was also strewn all over the floor and they noted staff funds of £50 to be missing from an unsecured money tin.”
Mr Stark also told the court McLeod, of Maxton Crescent, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, also broke into Buttons and Bows nursery in Glasgow in September 2019.
The 18-year-old stole over £900 from money and petty cash boxes. Defence agents for each of the young thugs asked for reports to be called for.
Sheriff Gillian Craig deferred sentence on all three males until May 24, calling for criminal justice social work reports and restriction of liberty order assessments.
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