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Plumber sinks thief's £1000 early morning crime spree

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Published Date: 17 February 2009
By ALAN McEWEN
A PLUMBER has been praised by police after he chased a thief who broke into ten cars and forced him to dump his haul of stolen property.
Thomas Dunnachie had just arrived to fix a leak at the Rock Trust building in Albany Street when he heard a car alarm going off.

The 29-year-old spotted the culprit acting suspiciously and pursued him for 200 metres along the street.

The panicking thief dropped a rucksack and plastic bag holding car radios, sat navs, iPods and other electrical equipment he had stolen from ten cars in the area. He managed to escape but Mr Dunnachie recovered the stolen property worth £1000 and called the police.

The thief smashed the windows of the vehicles parked in and around Great King Street, Albany Street and Dundonald Street to steal the goods before being spotted by Mr Dunnachie at 7.30am on Saturday.

Mr Dunnachie said: "I was standing outside my work van in the middle of the street after arriving for a job. I heard a noise and realised it was a car alarm.

"I saw a guy walking along the street towards me. He was quite scruffy and unshaven. I couldn't see any bags or anything but I just knew that he had broken into a car.

"I shouted 'come here' and he took off in the other direction. I started chasing after him and must have followed him for about 200 metres.

"He started dropping bags on the ground as he ran. I was still running after him but decided to stop. I didn't want to take the risk of ending up struggling with him on the ground if I caught him.

"He had dropped a rucksack and plastic bags and they had stereos and iPods inside."

Mr Dunnachie is a plumbing and heating engineer with Mech-A-Tech, based in Stoneheap Crofts in Bents, West Lothian. He lives with his wife, Fiona, 29, a veterinary nurse, in Grangemouth.

He added: "I don't know why I chased him because it was early on a Saturday morning. I just realised he was a thief and didn't want him to get away with it."

The suspect is described as white, mid-to-late 20s, 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in, unshaven, with dark unkempt hair. He was wearing a navy fleece jacket and carrying a dark rucksack. He may also have been wearing a woollen hat while carrying out some of the thefts.

A police spokesman said: "Mr Dunnachie's intervention played an important role in recovering the stolen goods, and we recognise the efforts he made in attempting to bring the suspect to justice.

"While the stolen items were recovered, the suspect has caused approximately £1000 worth of damage as a result of smashing the windows of these vehicles.

"We want anyone who was in the New Town area overnight between Friday and Saturday, and noticed anyone acting suspiciously there, to contact police immediately.

"At this time we would like to advise people not to store valuable electrical items in their vehicles and, if they do, to keep them out of sight."


Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 17 February 2009 11:23 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

allknowing,

17/02/2009 11:57:20
Pat on the back for him i would say!!!

But come on people, dont leave all those wares on display, your asking to be broken into!!
2

alfonsa pedrosa,

embra 17/02/2009 11:58:03
Well done the plumber,did he do a good job repairing the leak though.
3

Xena - Warrior Princess,

17/02/2009 11:58:37
Well done - a lot of other people would have turned the other way.
4

Plodjfriss, Hammer of the Numpties,

Edinburgh 17/02/2009 12:03:36
"I don't know why I chased him because it was early on a Saturday morning."

Yeah, I only ever chase people on Tuesday afternoons.
5

PDubbs,

17/02/2009 12:06:16
No need to put his address and wife's details in the article... or is it me being paranoid that the thief could come looking for his stuff?
6

Foo,

17/02/2009 12:08:04
Well done sir, you're a credit to Edinburgh.
7

bertiblunt,

17/02/2009 12:21:15
excellent the guy foils a criminal at work then the evening news hands out his personal details ,nice one EEN
8

john3,

17/02/2009 12:24:34
#7 Is he supposed to hide then?
9

Skip McClendon,

17/02/2009 12:28:49
The thief was probably just trying to raise money to pay some plumbing bills...

Nahhh, seriously. Well done to Mr Dunnachie. Nice to see some community spirit and a refusal to stand by while a crime is committed. Well done, sir!
10

Edin,

17/02/2009 12:46:35
Plodjfriss, Hammer of the Numpties

Numpty: he is meaning that is wasn't like it was late at night when someone may look more suspicious....But rather just a Saturday morning.daylight etc...
Duhhh
11

Ecto,

17/02/2009 13:04:40
Well done mate we need more people like this rather than those thet would turn a blind eye, keeps the scumbags on thier toes then!
12

legless,

Edinburgh 17/02/2009 13:13:16
Tomorrows headline:

"PLUMBER CHARGED FOR HARASSING CAR THIEF".
13

Foo,

17/02/2009 13:20:08
#10 - There's a glittering career as a limbo dancer awaiting you, cause that one went right over your head.
14

jabberjocky,

edinburgh 17/02/2009 13:20:25
nice of the paper to publish his personal details.
15

Euphemia Groynes of that Ilk,

17/02/2009 13:22:55
How well I recall Albany Street as it was in the days of my girlhood, so long ago now, alas!
16

Ron D,

Enybru 17/02/2009 13:23:03
If Mr Dunnachie had actually caught the thief we'd be reading a different story.
17

nSyratzcGlaw,

17/02/2009 13:32:35
The funniest thing about the UK Media is that they always tell you the persons age (and sometimes his wifes - and sometimes what her job is as well).



18

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 13:33:11
#13 Foo

HaHa....so funny!!
19

Bill MacD,

17/02/2009 13:41:36
It would have been even smarter if he could have followed the guy discreetly at a distance, while calling the police on a mobile.
20

Foo,

17/02/2009 13:47:03
#18 - Ah, the little tape worm returns.

All ready for another day writing hate filled little rants about whatever I have to say?
21

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 13:48:36
#20 Nope - just that 99% of your posts are thoroughly irritating!!
22

Edin,

17/02/2009 13:49:56
FOO FOO. Yes it did. Yes it did
23

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 13:50:16
and green as you appear to have little experience of life.
24

Edin,

17/02/2009 13:51:10
Well said Sir Albert x2. Foo is one sad little man..
25

Foo,

17/02/2009 13:55:06
Haha, look at the pair of you. Edin...surely you're too posh for this website and to bother with me...that's what you're always trying to tell people.

The other one...Albert whatever...you're nothing more than a 30 year stuck in your mums basement. Run along little man. Software engineer my backside.

26

Foo,

17/02/2009 13:56:30
#21 - Well 100% of yours are! You never comment on the story, just me. You're totally obsessed with me.

Like my own little fan club of little sacks of idiot.
27

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 13:58:31
#24 Edin

Thanks.

Foo is one irritating little parasite - it's good that you can see that his posts are full of s.....
Usually full of lies about his personal circumstances as well.
28

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 13:59:59
#26 Don't flatter yourself little boy. I do post comments on stories.

Freedom of speech.....if I want to make a remark of your posts, then I will.
29

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:02:05
#25 I could not care less whether you believe I'm a software engineer or not, but I will be head & shoulders above you when it comes to IT/programming.

Stick to night school/college and you'll eventually get yourself a job.
30

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:02:34
26# Foo "You never comment on the story, just me." Emmm I never commented on you in this story and you felt the need to make a comment to me soooo... pot calling the kettle black there...
31

Slobberchops the Aesthete,

17/02/2009 14:02:39
Speaking as Foo's grandmother, I won't have this relentless campaign of character assassination against my lovable little scamp of a grandson. I won't have it, do you hear? I simply will not have it! Do you understand? AAAAAAARRRGGHHHHH!!

(Sound of crockery being smashed. Sirens in background)
32

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:04:11
I cant believe there is someone like Foo out there.. What is your job. Why are you not working? How old are you??
33

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 14:08:04
FOO FOO. Yes it did. Yes it did
Well said Sir Albert x2. Foo is one sad little man..

Edin - You never commented on Foo? Someone else is using your name then.

One consulation I think that other stalker is gone.
34

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:09:07
#32 Edin

Foo runs his own business and now that he has staff running it for him, there's not much for him to do....apparently...hmmmmm. I smell bullsh*t.
35

Foo,

17/02/2009 14:10:44
#30 tut tut, Edin, I suggest you read what I wrote again before you make even more of an 3rse of yourself.

I was in fact directing that to your fellow goat blower, Albert (or eric shaun, or bannaheid, whatever he now calls himself after having been banned twice already)

Albert (or eric shaun, or, lets make it simple, FF - Foo Fanboy), FF you clearly are obsessed with me. Listen, I'm straight and married, but thanks for all the attention. Try to focus on someone who is also gay and living with their mum :o)

It's smashing that you're better than software/IT than me. Really, that's great son. Knock yourself out. I'm sure you'll be in a position to leave Hawick one day with skills like that.

Well done the pair of you, and thanks, for being my own little fanclub. Not even Mario has a fan club like that!
36

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:10:56
#31 Make sure he has some nice warm milk before he goes to bed.
37

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:12:00
Why would I want to leave Hawick? I've only recently moved there?
38

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:12:28
#35 We're not your fan club....we don't like you.
39

Foo,

17/02/2009 14:17:21
#37 - FF, the fact that you have to ask that question tells me a lot about you!

No perhaps I should clarify a few things that seem to upset you a bit. By staff, I mean two people that I hire. By more free time, I mean instead of working 7am - 10pm, I can get away with just 9-5 and a bit in the evening from home.

There. Make your software engineering job a bit easier to cope with? Oh, I'm sure you're doing something interesting and super important, like building the Hawick matrix or something. Well done FF, well done.
40

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:19:41
#39 I don't work In Hawick. I thought a "clever" chap like yourself wouldn't make assumptions??
41

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:22:00
#39 - FF, the fact that you have to ask that question tells me a lot about you!

What does it tell you? That I like the countryside??
42

Foo,

17/02/2009 14:22:15
#38 Albert (Foo Fanboy)
"....we don't like you..."

Come on! Hatred is only a degree away from obsession. It's clear that you're now in a place where I figure prominantly in your thoughts.

Flattering, but as I said, I'm straight and taken. I'm sure Hawick has a cracking gay scene for you to explore though.
43

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:32:35
#30 "tut tut, Edin, I suggest you read what I wrote again before you make even more of an 3rse of yourself. " I honestly dont know what you are talking about sometimes. you clearly just comment on peoples comments to cause problems. I hadnt even mentioned you in my first comment. but yet you accuse albert of doing that when you do the same...as i said pot calling kettle.
44

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:35:29
33
totally indecent,
Foo was saying that people in here only comment about the comments rather than the story itself. But as i said, in my first comment i did not mention Foo at all. but yet he took a jibe at mean making out i was stupid so i wrote back to him.
45

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:37:28
43~ Well as i said..... I am entitled to an opinion so what is the problem.. That is what you are doing so stop accusing others of doing the same when you only EVER comment on other peoples comments rather than the story........ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
46

Foo,

17/02/2009 14:40:35
#43 - Edin (foo fanclub VP)

In you post #30 you seemed to think I was referring to you.

#26 was not directed at you, but you took it to be. Therefore, you made a twit of yourself, along with, and these are his words, your fellow Hibee knobjockey who organises coach parties to cc blooms from Hawick.

Confused? Yes, I'm sure you are. Best get back to the pink nail varish and copy of Heat love, there's a good girl.
47

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:43:35
Its actually Hello mag and purple nail polish.. But your forgiven.
48

Foo,

17/02/2009 14:45:54
#45 - Now I'm confused.

Listen Edin pet, you seem to be talking to yourself.

Split personality? That would indeed explain much.
49

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:52:21
45 was written before you wrote 46

Who is that speaking?oh the voices in my head again..

Yawn, next story. think i need to go buy choc and heat now
50

Non Believer,

17/02/2009 14:54:46
Why is everytime I have a spare 5 mins to read this on line all I see is Foo being an t*t again.
Listen mate, you couldn't run a bath - your on here all day every day - stop talking ka ka
Thing with Foo is he holds his farts in so they travel up his spine and into his brain and that is where the sh*t is stored until he comes on here and it comes out.
Well done to the plumber I might add.
51

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 14:55:01
I'm confused now. I often don't comment on the stories but comment on the comments mostly other peoples comments and a lot of the commentators comment on the comments too.

Aside from that Edin you are clearly not in the same class as Sir Albert the Vindictive who is a very nasty personality and needs banned altogether.
52

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:56:54
#49 Good idea Edin - Foo has zero patter!!

Silly little naive Foo - I'm not actually gay, but could not care if you think I am. I post on the Hibs forum to get a reaction. You won't be aware of the song that Hearts fans love to sing.

53

Edin,

17/02/2009 14:57:18
hahha ok i had to laugh out loud at that one 51# Confused.com
54

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 14:57:28
Oh Ha bl00dy Ha non-beleiver - did you not dish out that extremely witty farts dialogue to me as well? Another nasty piece of work with no place on here.
55

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 14:59:17
#50 Well said. Foo is actually just a little boy, who's just started college and behind the aunomity of the internet, he can fantasise and lie about himself, to cover for his low self esteem.
56

Foo,

17/02/2009 15:00:51
Yeah, I don't mind Edin that much, it's just she sometimes has a go for no reason.

The Albert character is a bit disturbing. A quick search reveals that he has been quite active on the sports pages trying to organise homosexual parties at CC Blooms in between attacking me and sometimes Elyne who is mature enough to rise above it.

Non-believer is just a bit of an also ran. He's like the small kid that hangs around with the school bully and kicks someone in the head when they're down. Unfortunately, his parents had sex, he was born, someone sold him a PC, someone else set it up for him and bookmarked the EEN and then he spews his verbal AIDS all over the place.
57

Non Believer,

17/02/2009 15:02:11
#54 Nope - get back to your bottle of wine hasbeen !
You Decent have been barred from here hence the name change you lonely saddo - is that because Your actually the nasty piece of work.
Stop the drinking and your memory may improve
58

Edin,

17/02/2009 15:03:54
Isn't it funny how if we all bumped into each other we wouldnt even know it... AND we certainly wouldnt say the things we say on this.. on the join of the web!
59

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 15:04:13
#57 I'd wondered where Foo's boyfriend Decent had been...good to see he's back supporting the Foo.
60

Foo,

17/02/2009 15:05:49
#59 - Very witty, very witty indeed.
61

Foo,

17/02/2009 15:06:29
#58 - True, I'd knock Albert's lights out if I was to meet the little weed.
62

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 15:06:45
Well said Foo - I declare you the winner.
63

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 15:06:55
#60 Not as witty as you Mr.Funny!!
64

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 15:07:30
#62 I'll bet you do and in every department.
65

Edin,

17/02/2009 15:07:45
ok i'm ofskey. time to polish the toe nails now.mwha..but i'm sure we shall meet again
66

Foo,

17/02/2009 15:07:48
Albert, in between propositioning men on the sports pages, and abusing me, how do YOU have any time for work?
67

Foo,

17/02/2009 15:09:36
cheers #62 - It's easy really when up against a person with the mental capacity of a lettuce, such as our resident CC party boy Albert.

68

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 15:10:17
Like you, I have people work for me, so sometimes I have more time to post on the EEN.

Anyway, time to go, you and decent can talk sh*te and have a nice time together.

Later sweetheart.
69

Foo,

17/02/2009 15:11:11
Anyway, I'm off too. Albert, feel free to write lots and lots and lots of nasty things about me. Because I really, really, really, really, really care what anonymous homosexuals from Hawick think about me.

70

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 15:12:38
68 - Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Oh and I got barred for calling you exactly what you are.
71

Slobberchops the Aesthete,

17/02/2009 15:15:55
#50 "Well done to the plumber I might add."

Sorry, what plumber?
72

Non Believer,

17/02/2009 15:17:21
#70 Like I said, get back to your bottle and see if it dulls the pain and bitterness of your life - sad old woman - man left years ago - all own your own - come on here to try and make your life seem worthwhile but its not.
Proud of being barred - bravo
73

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 15:20:12
You really ought to start beleiving in something - maybe even yourself? You really can't be that bad. There must be a scrap of decency in there somewhere. And I am far from on my own. How can you hate someone you don't even know?
74

Sir AIbert x2,

17/02/2009 15:54:15
#61 Anytime little boy...just name the place.
75

Non Believer,

17/02/2009 16:04:00
#73 This coming from you who had a personal crusade against Elayne - memory a bit blurred. Thats probably why you got barred dumb dumb, it was relentless !
Catching Foo's verbal Cack are we ?
Funnily enough I havent been barred - work it out.
76

totally indecent,

17/02/2009 16:27:59
My comments are never full of hatred and vile like yours are. Most of us come on here to have a laugh not personally insult people. We have a banter until evil people like you and your friends come on. Oh and there is nothing wrong with my memory. I'd say it's above average considering my age.
77

Foo,

17/02/2009 16:41:32
I got barred once, but only because I posted the lyrics to f**k the police by NWA. A nice man at EEN thought they'd been heavy handed and re-instated me.

Non-believer, you're a total radge, you've come on here tons and just joined in slagging me off. So you can get right off that high horse, ya wee bam pot.



78

Foo,

17/02/2009 16:55:19
Posts #20 through to #77 - What a disgrace!

I'm ashamed to say I stooped as low as Albert in playing at his game. Hence forth, the radge will be ignored.

Oh, and well done again to the plumber, what a brave fella!
79

Brian Ferrari,

17/02/2009 17:44:45
Looks like I missed all the fun in here this afternoon.
80

missy k,

sunshine paradise 17/02/2009 19:12:58
have you lot got nothing better to do than argue on here!!
81

is it me?,

Edinburgh 17/02/2009 21:15:43
Great.
At last an uplifting story, and what do we get on these columns?
An afternoon of handbag slapping.

Well done Mr Dunnachie. If there were a few more like you around, society wouldn't be in the state that it's in.

82

is it me?,

Edinburgh 17/02/2009 21:52:35
Hello Tony
Of course you're right, as always. But after today's depressing contributions, all you've done now is make me think of a bacon sandwich. That's the frying pan on now.
It'll be the death of me. But don't blame yourself.
83

tumshie heid,

18/02/2009 00:18:09
Well done to the pursuing plumber. Good to see someone who will still get involved and help.
Tony most of Edinburgh's police are probably dealing with paperwork caused by silly old fools such as you complaining about chip lobbing urchins.
84

gerry99,

leith 18/02/2009 02:51:20
#83 Boring Tony (actually that could be you new name!).
What fairytale land do you live in where ther's a cop on every corner. Wake up and have a reality check.

And well done the plumber.

 

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