A “stupid” criminal was found in his home with security dye on his hands after stealing an empty cash box.
Lawrence Smith (46) had drank seven cans of cider on a bench before he approached a security man, threatened him and stole the cash box.
Smith, of Grosvenor Park, Rathmines, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a cash box from G-Force Security at South Great George’s Street on March 23th, 2011.
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three-year sentence, which he suspended in full after asking: “Is it a mitigating factor that the criminal is stupid?”
Garda Dan Barry told prosecuting counsel Monika Leech that G-Force Security was placing money in an ATM at South Great George’s Street. A security man was returning to the van with an empty cash box when Smith approached him, and said: “Give me the f***ing cash box, buddy.”
Smith, who has 15 previous convictions, got into a taxi and placed the box in the boot of the car and asked the taxi man to drive him home. The taxi driver became suspicious and contacted gardaí.