CAR thief Brian Crofts told police who arrested him that the public is “stupid really, they should lock their cars.”

CAR thief Brian Crofts told police who arrested him that the public is “stupid really, they should lock their cars.”

And the 26 year-old from March, who had been drinking before setting out to steal from cars, added: “I could have taken loads more. There was some cricket gear in one car.”

Crofts had been wending his way home after spending �70 on booze when he found a car with an unlocked boot, Fenland magistrates were told.

“At 6am police went to Hereward Street in March in response to a report that a man was trying car doors,” said prosecutor Andrea Fawcett.

Crofts was found in nearby Hawthorn Grove, and when told he would be searched, he said: “What if there is something in this bag, how long would I be locked up for?”

He admitted stealing, but said he did not break car locks or windows.

Crofts, of Truman Avenue, March, admitted stealing a rucksack and its contents. He had consumed a vast amount of alcohol earlier, and told police he had tried car doors as he walked home. He saw a bag on the back seat of a vehicle, and reached it through an unlocked boot.

“He had no idea why he took it, or what he was going to do with it,” added Ms Fawcett.

Mitigating, solicitor James Macwhirter said: “This was complete and utter drunken stupidity. He blames it on how much alcohol he had consumed; he took more than was good for him.

“He was meandering his way home, he saw a bag on the parcel shelf and reached in and took the bag; everything has been returned to the owner.”

Fining Crofts �200, presiding magistrate Jane Melloy told him: “You claim this happened because you were drunk, so don’t get drunk again.” He was ordered to pay a �15 surcharge and �85 costs.