Devizes Postman driven to theft

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Devizes man driven to theft

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/ ... _to_theft/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postman Kevin Foster told a court he stole items of mail in a desperate attempt to escape the debt he had fallen into.

Foster, 25, of Longcroft Avenue, Devizes, who, until his arrest was also a retained firefighter in Devizes, admitted stealing 14 packets belonging to Royal Mail when he appeared before magistrates in Salisbury on Tuesday.

Bob Booker, prosecuting, said in September last year a member of the public reported finding a number of postmarked envelopes in a ditch in Erlestoke. As the area was on Foster’s delivery round, Royal Mail investigator David Lynch carried out a tested surveillance of Foster, which included five envelopes containing a £10 note and a mis-sorted item containing a tracking device.

He said Foster failed to deliver the mis-sorted item and was interviewed. He agreed to a search of his home but not a personal search, so the police were called in.

Mr Booker said: “Nine open postal packets were found on his person and four of the £10 notes. A search of his premises found more postal packets.”

Foster admitted spending the fifth £10 note on cigarettes, drinks and a birthday present for his daughter. He offered to pay it back.

One of the items stolen was a birthday card to a four-year-old child. Mr Booker said: “Mr Foster was asked how he would feel if it was one of his children and, to do him credit, he was full of remorse.”

Paul Jones, defending, said Foster had been tempted into theft because of the problems he and his partner had with debt. He said they had three children and his partner was heavily pregnant with a fourth.

Mr Jones said: “Because she was having such problems with the pregnancy she had been laid off work. They were already in financial difficulties, paying £300 a month to a debt recovery service.

“He opened a small number of packages and didn’t gain anything until the sting operation.

“This was not a sophisticated crime. He doesn’t live an extravagant lifestyle or have a drug habit.”

He said Foster lost his job as a postman and as a retained firefighter. He is now working as a warehouseman.

The case was adjourned for sentence until March 7.

[andy2007]

Not another one!

[DGP1]

Considering how many posties are employed I would say the crime rate is very low, just because Teebs is now posting up all the stories about it there just seems to be many.

[andy2007]

True. They make up a tiny minority of Posties, but there just doesn't seem to be anything to deter these criminals from abusing their position of trust. And it's not just on here, that we read about them, either. Although it is a good outlet to discuss the situation, without (much) fear of comebacks from Management. To be honest, it's been getting me down for a long time now. No matter how many are caught, there never seems to be anything even remotley resembling a deterrant against others following suit. And who takes the flack from the Public?
We do. It's bad enough, for those of us who work indoors, when we need to call at a shop on the way to or from work (so we're in uniform), and get snide comments, when something like this has been in the Papers recently. I dread to think what it's like for those of you, who spend the majority of your shift dealing with the Public face to face. Some take one look at our Uniform and think it justifies them making comments like "nicked any Christmas cards lately" on the run up to Christmas. Which is usually the worst time for it, as things are delayed, and they assume they've been stolen, before getting their facts straight!

[DGP1]

The only thing that deters people from making criminal acts is themselves, if it's not in your personality to do it then you just wont ..............no amount of deterrents will ever change that (just look at the death penalty in the US, nobody who commits a murder thinks about what could happen if they get caught).

[youwot!!!!!]

The only thing that deters people from making criminal acts is themselves, if it's not in your personality to do it then you just wont ..............no amount of deterrents will ever change that (just look at the death penalty in the US, nobody who commits a murder thinks about what could happen if they get caught).

it pains me to say this but i agree with you dgp

[DGP1]

The only thing that deters people from making criminal acts is themselves, if it's not in your personality to do it then you just wont ..............no amount of deterrents will ever change that (just look at the death penalty in the US, nobody who commits a murder thinks about what could happen if they get caught).

it pains me to say this but i agree with you dgp

Sometimes even I make sense but don't worry, dirty posts and baiting MC workers will soon return

[youwot!!!!!]

The only thing that deters people from making criminal acts is themselves, if it's not in your personality to do it then you just wont ..............no amount of deterrents will ever change that (just look at the death penalty in the US, nobody who commits a murder thinks about what could happen if they get caught).

it pains me to say this but i agree with you dgp

Sometimes even I make sense but don't worry, dirty posts and baiting MC workers will soon return

thank god for that.i thought i had entered an alternate universe.

[DGP1]

The only thing that deters people from making criminal acts is themselves, if it's not in your personality to do it then you just wont ..............no amount of deterrents will ever change that (just look at the death penalty in the US, nobody who commits a murder thinks about what could happen if they get caught).

it pains me to say this but i agree with you dgp

Sometimes even I make sense but don't worry, dirty posts and baiting MC workers will soon return

thank god for that.i thought i had entered an alternate universe.

[fmrPOSTIE]

I used to get snide comments too when in uniform but then I was a lot younger then!

Someone shouted down the street once: "Oh look, another dodgy postman!"

[andy2007]

That's exactly the problem, as far as reputation goes. Thankfully, I don't get it very often, as I work indoors, but it must be terrible for Delivery Posties. Although the people I feel most sorry for, are the victims of these crimes.