Son steals father's safe at business site
A son burgled his own father's firm in Darlaston, stealing a safe containing thousands of pounds of cash and jewellery.
Mohammed Yousif, aged 19, and his 18-year-old friend Ryan Adams targeted Atlas Commission Embroidery in Phoenix Works Industrial Estate. Both were spared immediate prison sentences yesterday. The pair escaped with a safe containing £5,000 in cash, four bracelets, a necklace, earrings and passports on July 22, Walsall Magistrates Court heard.
The embroidery business in Richards Street is owned by Yousif's father, also named Mohammed, and his partner Kim Taylor. Mr Nick Baker, prosecuting, said that when the theft was discovered and reported to police there were no signs of forced entry, the burglar alarm had not been activated and locked doors had been opened. He said: "The police thought it was an inside job."
Yousif, of Bassett Road, Wednesbury, and Adams, of Bentley Lane, Birchills, Walsall, were both identified when surveillance CCTV footage from a neighbouring property was reviewed. The court heard it showed four men, one of whom was carrying a safe. Two of them have not been traced.
Mr Baker said police arrested Yousif and Adams and almost £2,000 in cash was recovered when they were searched. He said Yousif admitted what he had done when interviewed and claimed he did it to get back at his father, but later regretted his actions.
Both defendants admitted burglary.
The pair were both handed 12-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months. They were also ordered to each carry out 120 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs, but magistrates made no order for compensation.
