Three cousins who teamed up to take part in a shoplifting spree at a Carlisle branch of B&M Bargains have been fined.
A lawyer representing Anton Rostas, 31, Manuel Rostas, 25, and 28-year-old Victor Rostas told city magistrates their crime at the Wigton Road store had been ham-fisted.
The rucksack-carrying trio entered the shop on February 8 and picked up shopping baskets.
Anton and Manuel went to an aisle where electronic items were on the shelves and piled items — including earphones and chargers — into the baskets.
Victor then followed suit before all items were transferred into their bags.
No attempt was made to pay for the products before they left the store. Victor was stopped by a police officer. His two cousins were detained by store security staff.
Items — with a total value of £753 — was recovered.
Anton, of Pollokshaws Road; Manuel, of Calder Street; and Victor, of Paisley Road West, all Glasgow, each admitted a charge of theft when they appeared in court.
Defence solicitor Duncan Campbell said the Romanian men had originally travelled from Scotland to the store car park intending to meet the potential buyer of a vehicle they were selling.
After that would-be buyer failed to show, the three men — who attempted to make a living from buying and selling relatively cheap vehicles — resorted to shoplifting.
“It’s just as well thieving is not their profession,” said Mr Campbell. “They made a pretty ham-fisted job of it.”
Lead magistrate Nick Swinscoe agreed, telling the men: “We don’t find this was a sophisticated crime by any means.”
The three men were each given a £140 fine and ordered to pay additional costs.
