Office Worker Caught Red-Handed: Stole Nearly £7K and Premium Vodka
Scott Smith, 45, of Windsock Close, SE16, has been hit with an eight-month prison sentence – suspended for 18 months – after stealing thousands in cold, hard cash from his Westminster workplace safe. The Old Bailey handed down the punishment on Tuesday, 15 September, also ordering 80 hours of unpaid work and £2,000 in compensation.
Cash and Vodka Theft Over Two Weeks
Smith’s theft spree started on 4 December 2019. Over a fortnight, after clocking out, he repeatedly sneaked into the office, cracked open the safe, and swiped a total of £6,855 in cash.
In a cheeky twist, on his final heist, Smith helped himself to two bottles of top-shelf Belvedere Vodka valued at £250 each.
Confession After No-Show
When Smith missed his shift on 23 December, bosses got suspicious. Following multiple calls, Smith admitted to stealing money from the safe.
The next day, a safe audit revealed over £6,000 missing, confirming the worst.
Police Investigation and CCTV Evidence
At the time, Smith was living in Cardiff. He voluntarily surrendered at a police station on 28 December and was interviewed before being transferred back to London police for further questioning.
A search of his London residence uncovered the two stolen vodka bottles but no cash. Meanwhile, CCTV footage from the office captured Smith raiding the safe 19 times, cementing his guilt.
Smith’s daring daylight thefts have landed him a criminal record and a hefty price to pay – even if he avoids immediate jail time.
