Fish tank thief returned to shop to buy goldfish
A thief who stole a £50 fish tank from a pet store was caught when he returned to the same shop to buy a goldfish.
Nigel Ball, 52, wrote his name and address on a form when he bought the goldfish from Pets at Home on Westgate Retail Park in Wakefield.
Magistrates at Wakefield heard when staff asked what type of fish tank he only to get had, Ball pointed to tank similar to the one he had stolen. Police were alerted and Ball was arrested.
Prosecutor, Rory Byrne said Ball, of Walnut Avenue, Peacock, Wakefield, stole the hexagonal tank from the store just after 5pm on May 29 and carried it home for more than a mile.
Mr Byrne said Ball told police: “I wanted to buy some goldfish, but I had to fill out a form with my details on it. That’s what got me.”
Store staff alerted police who found the stolen tank at Ball’s home in Walnut Avenue,
Ball admitted theft. Magistrates adjourned sentencing for reports.
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