Anatolia Restaurant, Carlisle: Burglar stole £90 from tip jar

During a short hearing at the city’s Rickergate court, Richard Mark Foster, 51, admitted the burglary at the Anatolia Restaurant on Abbey Street on January 6. He was identified from the restaurant’s CCTV images.

Prosecutor George Shelley said the burglary was discovered on January 7 when the owner of the Turkish restaurant and bar arrived at premises.

“When they checked the CCTV, it was discovered that a male had entered the premises through an unlocked door, but he was then spooked by a passer-by,” said Mrs Shelley.

The defendant initially then left.

But when the coast was clear, he went back into the restaurant. The restaurant's video cameras recording him as he picked up the iPhone, worth £300, and some cutlery before going to the bar area and picking up the tips' jar containing cash.

“It contained about £90,” said Mr Shelley. Foster then left the restaurant.

A police officer who was shown the CCTV footage identified Foster as the burglar and he was duly arrested on January 10. When searched, he was found to be carrying the iPhone but the stolen tips jar and cash were never found.

When challenged about the iPhone, he denied taking it, claiming that he had found it in a car park.

The court heard that Foster’s criminal record consists of 124 previous offences, of which 81 were thefts.

He also has burglaries on his criminal record. The defendant’s most recent conviction was for vehicle interference.

A Probation Officer in court said that the defendant, who gave his address as Graham Street, Carlisle, had recently failed to attend an appointment.

After hearing the details, and a report from a Probation Officer in court, magistrates jailed Foster for four months. When released, said magistrates, the defendant must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

He was also told to compensate the restaurant, reimbursing the £90 that was in the tips' jar and which was never recovered.