A THIEF was spotted attempting to break into a bike shop after neighbours heard him smashing a window to gain entry.

Christopher Turnbull was seen lurking outside the premises after residents heard the window breaking at about 3am on July 23.

The “loud bang” alerted the householders living close to the store and Turnbull was seen “crouching down and looking into the shop”.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the hapless thief was then again seen to repeatedly strike the window of the Edinburgh Bike Smith business with an object.

Police were called and on their arrival Turnbull ran from the scene and tried to hide from the officers in a nearby stairwell.

Officers chased after him and soon found the 41-year-old “hiding attempting to avoid detection”.

His gloves were found to have pieces of smashed glass attached to them and he was also carrying a black bag.

During the search of Turnbull, he was found to be carrying a knife and also had a bank card terminal secreted within the hold-all.

Officers printed off a receipt which showed the terminal belonged to the bar bistro business Damm 27, which is located near to the bike store in Newington.

Police attended at the Damm 27 premises and discovered a “small door at street level” had been smashed open by Turnbull for him to gain entry.

Turnbull appeared at the Capital court last week via video link from HMP Edinburgh, where he is currently on remand.

Solicitor John Good told the court that his client was pleading guilty to all three charges and he was not looking for bail.

Mr Good said that Turnbull had an address to go to at his partner’s new home in Pencaitland but the court would need reports before he was sentenced.

Mr Good added that Turnbull’s “behaviour is very hard to explain” and that his offending might be linked to a recent diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Sheriff John Mundy remanded Turnbull in custody and deferred sentence to later this month for social work reports to be prepared.

Turnbull pleaded guilty to smashing a window and attempting to break into the Edinburgh Bike Smith, Causwayside, Edinburgh, on July 23.

He also admitted to breaking into Damm 27 and stealing a payment terminal at the same street on the same date.

Turnbull also admitted possessing a knife during the same incidents.