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A THIEF who attempted to steal from a car while in possession of a meat thermometer could face jail.

Christopher Carrick, 36, was snared in Glasgow city centre last December.

He had earlier smashed a car window and was spotted by onlookers who contacted police.

Carrick pleaded guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to forcing open a motor vehicle with intent to steal and possession of a meat thermometer.

The court heard Carrick “smashed the passenger window” of a car parked on Renfield Street.

He told a passer-by “Someone told me there was something in it” and offered to pay for the damage.

A police car was flagged down and officers and Carrick told them he would pay to repair the window.

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “Upon searching him, police recovered in his jacket pocket a thermometer skewer.

“This is something used to check meat is at the right temperature.”

Raymond McIlwham, defending, told the court Carrick had recently come into possession of the skewer and that he “should have known better.”

Sentence was deferred until May for background reports by Sheriff Ian Fleming.

Carrick, who appeared from custody, was granted bail meantime to an address in the city’s Milton.