Valeo worker stole his team leader’s €500 smartphone

A TUAM factory worker who stole his team leaderâ€â„¢s smartphone and tried to have it unlocked at the local Vodafone outlet, pleaded guilty to the theft when his case came before Judge Conal Gibbons at Tuam District Court. The Court heard that Damien Burke of Cappagh, Dunmore was unsure of his future at the Valeo company once the details of his case were made public. Insp Michael Oâ€â„¢Dwyer told the Court that on April 12 last a supervisor at Valeo had her phone stolen while she was working at the Dunmore Road, Tuam plant. The phone, a Galaxy SIII, was valued at €500. She only noticed the theft when she arrived home after her shift. She reported the matter to the Gardai. When the Vodafone shop in Tuam was contacted they reported that the defendant had been in. He had offered them €20 to unlock the phone. The SIM card had been removed from the phone. Evan Dwyer solr (defending) said the phone belonged to his clientâ€â„¢s team leader, a Ms Glynn, and contained many of her personal details. This is how it was identified. He explained that his client worked with his victim on night shifts and at weekends. Burke realised that it had been an error of judgement on his part and after his arrest had co-operated fully with Gardai. It had been an opportunistic theft but the phone had been recovered a couple of hours after it was taken. However, the defence admitted that this had not come about as a result of any change of heart on Burkeâ€â„¢s part. Judge Gibbons asked if the SIM card had been recovered and was told that it had not. The defence pleaded that Burke â€Å“fully recognised his error and now faced his own difficulties as far as the company he worked for is concerned.â€Â The defending solicitor said there would be ramifications as a result of his appearance in Court and the victim was not at a loss, so he asked that his client be allowed make a donation to a charity in lieu of a conviction. Judge Gibbons said he thought this was an appropriate response which was proportionate to the crime. He was informed that Burke had worked for Valeo for three years and earned approximately €350 per week. â€Å“That is up until now. Whatever happens as a result of this remains to be seen,â€Â Evan Dwyer said. The Court ordered that Burke donate €300 to the Tuam branch of the Saint Vincent de Paul in lieu of a criminal conviction.