A picture of a Highland cow links a man charged with a spate of burglaries, the High Court heard yesterday.
Prosecutors claimed the framed portrait of cattle taken from one of the houses was later discovered at an address used by Eugene Smyth.
The 32-year-old is also accused of stealing three cars during a spree of domestic break-ins at locations in south Belfast and Co Antrim.
A Hyundai vehicle taken from the home of a 74-year-old man is believed to have been used in a subsequent raid at another location days later.
Mr Smyth, of Bleach Green Terrace in west Belfast, denies four counts of burglary and further charges of making off without payment, theft from a vehicle, fraud by false representation, tampering with a vehicle, and driving while disqualified.
The house raids were carried out on dates between August 14 and 19 last year.
A pensioner living at Ardmore Park in Belfast reported that a Hyundai ix35, laptop, cash, scrap gold and electric razor had been taken after he went to bed, the court heard.
According to the prosecution the victim’s car was driven to the scene of a second burglary at Feldon Close, Newtownabbey where a Vauxhall Insignia, television set and cash were stolen.
Within hours two further properties on the Tullyrusk Road in Crumlin were targeted.
A Range Rover Evogue, jewellery, clothing and phones were reported taken from one of those addresses.
In a separate break-in at a neighbouring house the framed picture of a Highland cow was stolen along with another television set, whiskey, crystal and kitchen appliances.
“The picture becomes relevant because it was recovered during a search at Bleach Green Terrace,” a prosecution lawyer said.
She claimed Mr Smyth’s DNA profile was also recovered from the steering wheel of the stolen Hyundai.
Mr Justice O’Hara asked: “Was there any explanation in interviews why the picture of the Highland cow with horns was in [the Bleach Green Terrace address]?”
Joe Brolly, defending, questioned if it was even the stolen portrait and insisted other people frequent the location where it was discovered.
He told the court that only a mixed and partial DNA profile was obtained from the car, suggesting it could have got there through contamination.
“This case is perilously weak. There’s zero evidence linking this accused to any of this,” Mr Brolly said.
But disagreeing with the defence assessment, Mr Justice O’Hara refused bail.
