Prison for postie who stole mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/20470 ... stole_mail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A POSTMAN who stole 700 items of mail and did not bother to deliver another 4,500 letters and parcels has been jailed for 10 months.

Jozsef Szalo committed the crimes throughout his spell as a part-time postman in Redhill between January and September 2008.

On February 2 this year the 33-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of post, one of intentionally opening post and one of intentionally delaying post.

During sentencing at Guildford Crown Court on Friday prosecutor Anthony Lenaghan said the offences came to light on August 27 last year.

It was said the landlord at Szalo’s former home in Keats Avenue, Redhill, found two bin bags full with 396 pieces of post.

“He [the landlord] took that mail to the Redhill delivery office and it was established that the postman due to deliver that mail was the defendant,” Mr Lenaghan said.

“He had been living at a Keats Avenue address but had moved from the property two weeks prior to this mail being recovered.”

The court heard that Szalo was immediately interviewed and suspended and his delivery bag was then found to contain two partially opened greeting cards.

Mr Lenaghan said Royal Mail’s internal investigations team contacted the police and Szalo was arrested and taken to Reigate Police Station.

“While this was taking place, they searched a red Toyota registered in his partner’s name that was parked in the car park outside the Redhil delivery office,” he said.

“The search resulted in police finding nine full delivery pouches of mail, three bin liners and three carrier bags.”

It was said that the 4,558 letters and parcels should have been delivered between March 27 and August 13 last year.

A further 307 opened letters were found in the car boot, some of which contained debit and credit cards.

Adam James, defending, said Szalo was a man of previous good character who had admitted the offences at the first opportunity.

The court heard that Hungarian Szalo and his family were thinking about returning to their home country.

When handing down sentence, Judge Peter Moss said: “You appreciate that stealing from the mail is a very, very serious matter.

“Everybody depends on the mail and it’s ability to arrive for their lives.”

Due to financial difficulties, Szalo, of Grove Hill Road, Redhill was not ordered to pay any of the £1,800 prosecution costs or the £315 cost of delivering the delayed mail.

[johnsouthwales]

whats the worse undelivered haul discovered?

[andy2007]

I don't know. It's too depressing to try and keep track.

The trouble is, that there isn't a proper deterrant. I mean, 10 Months?!?!?
Yeh, the risk of 10 Months in Jail (most don't get custodial sentences), is REALLY going to deter someone. When there are so many high value items, going through the system.

[johnsouthwales]

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[johnsouthwales]

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[johnsouthwales]

hang about... something's not quite right here... in the report of euros were taken, two points...

1. mail trolley. impossible to take it into premises entered. why were parties quick to criticize? "oh the postie should be looking after the mail.". how the fek is someone supposed to deliver and watch the trolley at the same time? trolleys are supposed to have plastic cover over them and locked? common practice is to lock the cover but leave the key in. there was no mention in the report on this or what type of trolley used.

i've seen with my own eyes keys visible in lock, postie was delivering into house and out of site for about 12 seconds

2. opportunists. if someone knew what exactly they were after, how come they knew where and when the package would be and what to look for? or was it by sheer bad luck the opportunist grabbed the envelope with the money in?