Man admits stealing dozens of post boxes worth more than GBP25,000

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Mark Crowther, 37, of Chirk, stole or attempted to steal 37 boxes between 2012 and 2014

A man has admitted stealing or attempting to steal 37 post boxes worth more than £25,000.

Mark Crowther, 37, of Linden Avenue, Chirk, stole 33 boxes belonging to the Royal Mail and attempted to steal another four across Wrexham, Flintshire and Shropshire. The crimes happened between 2012 and 2014.

Crowther appeared in the dock at Mold Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing today.


Mark Crowther

He had indicated not guilty pleas at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court last month, but entered guilty pleas to all matters today.

Judge Niclas Parry rebailed him to return for sentence on December 22 and ordered a pre-sentence report from the probation service.

“I would be lying if I told you to do anything other than to prepare yourself for a custodial sentence,” he said.

All sentencing options would remain open.


The defendant stole post boxes from Whitehurst, Wynnstay, Knolton Bryn, Overton Station, Forest Road, Mount Pleasant, Chirk Station, Bersham, Bryn Common, Red Hall Lane, Althrey, Ninth Avenue, Cock Bank, Llangar, Bryn Villa, Bowling Bank, Holly Bush Lane, Eglwys and Wynstay Road in Wrexham.


In Shropshire, Crowther stole post boxes from Haughton in Shrewsbury, Sodylt in Ellesmere, Chequer Box in Long Waste, Whitchurch,; and Llwyn Road, Park Hall, Bronygarth and the Old Racecourse in Oswestry.

Crowther also struck in Flintshire and stole a post box from Cadole near Mold.

The attempted thefts were at Forest Road, Croes, Wynnstay and Bryn Place - all in Wrexham.

[telithowitis]

So he gets bailed to 22/12 and told that he is likely to get a jail sentence on his return.
He's really likely to turn up for that then!!!!!!

[mailroyaly]

It looks like he's eyeing up that bin in the photo.

[k979aaa]

It looks like he's eyeing up that bin in the photo.

Just thought that myself scrag end only looking for his next acquisition bit like the hedge fund buyers buy/steal run down deceive and sell bob's your uncle profit!

[Dorset Plodder]

I take it he only wanted the scrap value? Although I suppose there might have been a bit of cash in the enclosed mail?
I know it's a bit of a 1st World problem but he probably scrapped quite a bit of history while lining his pocket. I love the OLD Letterboxes especially the George V ones.

I suppose he could have been stealing to order for people that wanted the Antique boxes? Don't tend to get that many stolen,although the smaller post mounted ones do disappear from Rural Areas occasionally. Tend more to get them demolished by pissed up drivers on the country roads. Always upsets the locals when their OLD George V letterbox is replaced by one of these snazzy new ones. On the plus side they're a damn site easier to open!

[HirstyUK]

One of ours was knicked in Dewsbury a couple months ago. Used an angle grinder to cut it off it's stem, but ditched it in a bush just a few hundred meters away