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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Man stole mail for drug money
He was hoping to find some cash to feed his drug addiction. But all Josh Cook ended up with were some bills and a Christmas card.
Cook, 18, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to committing mail theft last December.
A resident of Lipton Street called police after spotting Cook leafing through several mailboxes. Officers arrived on scene quickly and caught Cook in the act. He tried to run away but was chased down in a short distance, with several envelopes still in his possession. Cook told police he was desperate for money to purchase narcotics. The stolen mail was returned to the intended recipients.
Cook has no prior criminal record and has been diagnosed as suffering from some "intellectual challenges" along with his drug issues, court was told.
Provincial court Judge Tracey Lord said she was giving Cook a break by dishing out a conditional discharge that will allow him to maintain a clean slate, provided he stay out of trouble for the next 15 months. Cook must also perform 20 hours of community service work while on probation and continue to attend counselling and treatment programs he’s already enrolled in since his arrest.
The Crown told court Wednesday it’s unfortunate that not even private mailboxes are safe from thieves. Last month, city police issued a warning to homeowners to watch their mail after a Canada Post community mail unit was robbed in a south Winnipeg residential subdivision.
Police said identify theft is the greatest risk of mail theft, but noted cheques are often sent in the mail as well. Last fall, a 28-year-old Winnipeg man was arrested for rooting through people’s mail and stealing several Winnipeg Jets tickets, which he then sold over the Internet.
www.mikeoncrime.com
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