Thief jailed forklift break-in at B&M store in Elgin

A thief has been jailed after a gang used a forklift truck to smash their way into a Moray store to steal its safe.

Police were alerted when the automatic alarm at B&M in Elgin went off in the early hours of June 1, 2022.

Officers arrived on the scene to find the safe was still sitting on the prongs of the forklift, but the thieves had fled.

However Jakub Hasiuk was later arrested after officers examined the CCTV footage.

Clothing seen to be worn by one of the thieves was found at the 48-year-old’s home in Elgin.

Fiscal depute Pauline Gair stated that breeze blocks had been smashed and corrugated walls ripped open in order to reach the safe.

Hasiuk pleaded guilty to charges of housebreaking and attempt theft.

He also admitted a separate incident six days before the forklift raid.

In this he obtained a £399 drill from a local supplier by producing a faked order form, purporting to be from his then employers.

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty stated that his client had not been the mastermind behind the break-in.

The lawyer said: "It was not organised, set up or planned by him.

“He had borrowed £3000 from one of the participants. But then he was immediately put under pressure to repay it and to get involved in this exploit because he knew the location of the safe.

"He did not touch the safe. It was a poor decision by him to become involved with these other individuals."

Hasiuk was jailed for 35 months and left the dock in tears.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told him: "Your acceptance of guilt is only partial, according to the background report.

"You and others cut open certain parts of the building and caused significant loss and damage.

"The store had to close and lost daily turnover which would have been in the region of £25,000.

"This was a brazen and audacious attempt to gain entry to a safe for financial gain."