Mail Online

Golf club raider unmasked as its former manager

By Gordon Currie

A SERIAL thief who staged three break-ins at an award-winning golf club was eventually outed as the former clubhouse manager.

David Kearney stole money from Pitlochry Golf Club twice in the weeks after losing his long-term job with the Perthshire business.

But when the 48-year-old went back to help himself to the takings for a third time he was caught by newly installed security cameras set up by the club management.

Staff were shocked when they studied the CCTV footage and realised that the earlyhours raider was their former manager.

Kearney, of Pitlochry, admitted breaking in and stealing £100 on October 3, stealing £373.50 on October 11, and returning on October 25 to try to steal again.

Fiscal depute Nicole Lewis told Perth

Sheriff Court: ‘The accused was the general manager at the location until leaving in September 2021.

‘Takings at the clubhouse were bagged, sealed and placed in a locked safe. There was a small metal box outside which contained a key for entry and to switch off the alarm. The accused knew this.

‘On October 5 an employee was told by the duty manager that the previous day’s float was short by £100. Bags in the safe had been ripped open but no money taken.

‘On October 11 staff opened the safe and saw only two bags when they expected three. The value of the missing bag was £373.50. They checked CCTV footage and saw nothing.

‘They checked the alarm and found it had been deactivated at 4.15am. They checked the alarm from the date the float went missing and it had also been deactivated at 4.12am.

‘Police were contacted and further security cameras were installed in case it happened again. At 1.10am on October 25 an employee received an alert that there was activation of the newly installed CCTV. He checked it and identified

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