A THIEF carried out a Mission Impossible-style raid at a historic building.

Martin West committed the heist at the Egyptian Halls in Glasgow's Union Street in May last year.

The 53 year-old tied himself to a rope, carved a hole in a ceiling and lowered himself into the Dr Faust shop below.

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The store - which specialises in Gothic and vintage clothes - was shut at the time due to the first covid lockdown.

But, CCTV captured West carrying out the crime.

Prosecutor Carrie Stevens told Glasgow Sheriff Court: "It showed West lowering himself down a hole in the roof using a rope within a cupboard.

"He then entered the front room of the shop with the rope still attached to his stomach.

"He selected items such as laptops, cameras and clothing before concealing them in carrier bags."

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The shop owner later discovered his store had been ransacked - but no sign of forced entry.

Miss Stevens said: "The owner and the police attended the floor above the shop which is the Egyptian Halls, an unused building.

"It was observed there was scaffolding on the outside of the halls which led to a first-floor window.

"The window had been forced open and a large bungee style rope had been tied onto the scaffolding poles.

"The rope was attached to pillars within the floor above the shop and led onto a small hole on the floor.

"The hole led to a cupboard at the shop."

The loot - which was never recovered - is believed to have been valued at several thousand pounds.

West was later snared for the crime after being traced to the city's Partick.

It emerged he already had a record for similar crimes.

James Mulgrew, defending, told the court West was able to carry out the theft despite having been under the influence of alcohol and valium at the time.

The lawyer added: "He cannot tell me how he became involved with a case of this nature."

Sheriff Paul Crozier jailed West for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to theft by housebreaking.

Sheriff Crozier told him: "It seems clever, and I will point out opportunistic, for someone to attend and have a rope with them.

"It seems there was some degree of planning."

West stated 'thank you, sir' before being lead handcuffed to the cells.