A construction worker has been jailed after sneaking onto a site next to his own job and stealing a wallet from a drying room.

Luke McAllister of Buntingford was working on a separate site, on the A1198 in Cambridgeshire last November when he trespassed onto the plot, went into the site hut and took a wallet containing a bank card.

The 35-year-old then walked over to a nearby petrol station and attempted to purchase a packet of cigarettes but the card was declined twice.

The victim received a notification on his mobile phone of the failed transactions and went to the garage to investigate.

He got a description of McAllister and spotted him working on the building site so called the police for assistance.

McAllister ran away when police arrived, climbed a fence and then attempted to hide in some brambles where he was arrested.

At Cambridge Crown Court McAllister was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to burglary, fraud by false representation and obstructing a constable.

PC Ridgway said: “The victim did the right thing calling us and as a result, McAllister is now paying for his actions.”

Comment: "Site security is a requirement on-site, with lockable containers/cabinets for the workforce to protect their belongings from theft."

Source: Construction Enquirer