A MAN who stole a smart watch from a flat was caught after the theft was overheard on a Zoom call.

George Johnstone, 35, took the device from a property in Glasgow's Possilpark on June 24, 2022.

The frightened woman was on a work call when she discovered Johnstone rummaging in her kitchen.

A concerned colleague called the police as the woman fled the property.

Johnstone had also taken a black rucksack from a car in the city's Kelvinside which contained a man's work laptop and charger the day before.

This was discovered at the woman's property following a search.

Johnstone, who appeared from custody, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to two thefts.

Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC jailed him for 10 months.

The court heard that the owner of a Ford Fiesta discovered that the inside of his car was different from when he left it the day before.

He also noticed that his black rucksack was missing which contained his work laptop and charger as well as other items.

The next day, the owner of the Possilpark flat was on a work Zoom call while upstairs and home alone.

She heard the patio door slam shut and assumed it was her partner returning home.

The woman shouted on him but received no response.

She heard rustling noises coming from the kitchen and shouted on him again.

Prosecutor Ross Canning said: "Thinking her partner was playing a practical joke as he would do to scare her, she became fearful there was an unknown person in her kitchen.

"She walked downstairs into the kitchen to see Johnstone standing there rummaging through items."

The woman screamed for Johnstone to leave the property but he made his way towards her.

The woman fled the house in terror.

Mr Canning said: "The person on the Zoom call while not being able to see what was happening was able to hear and called the police in fear for her colleague's safety."

The woman meantime took assistance from a neighbour who then saw Johnstone inside the property.

The neighbour tried to restrain Johnstone to the ground outside.

A 999 call was made by the woman's partner who was also made aware of the situation.

He returned to find Johnstone breaking free from the neighbour and made off.

Johnstone was later traced by officers and arrested.

He said: "I thought it was my cousin's house."

A smart watch was recovered from Johnstone which he claimed he did not know if it belonged to him.

It was later confirmed that it belonged to the woman.

The black rucksack belonging to the car owner was also found which contained the stolen items.