Woman thought mail thefts were ‘funny’
An unemployed 34-year-old Christchurch woman has been granted name suppression after admitting stealing mail from 104 letterboxes across Canterbury.
She told the police she found it funny while she was committing the thefts, but felt bad afterwards.
A psychiatric report is being prepared on the woman ahead of her sentencing which is set for May 22 in the Christchurch District Court.
Extra time has been set aside for the sentencing, for the argument over whether the woman should have permanent name suppression.
The woman remains on bail while the Probation Service prepares a pre-sentence report, and a decision will be made on whether there should be a restorative justice meeting where the she could face dozens of her victims.
The woman pleaded guilty to the theft charge at a case review today after the police agreed to reduce the value of the mail involved to under $1000, which also reduces the potential penalty.
She admitted the charge that between September 28 and October 10, in Canterbury, she stole mail that was “the property of rural delivery letterbox owners”.
The woman was arrested in Doyleston, near Leeston, south of Christchurch, on October 11, after a resident had spotted her opening letterboxes at West Melton the day before. The resident chased the woman’s car, took down the registration number, and reported it to the police.
Police prosecutor Aja Trinder told the court today that the woman had driven around North Canterbury, Selwyn, and the outskirts of Christchurch during the days, stealing mail and courier packages from 104 mailboxes.
Among the items stolen were bank statements and cards, company invoices, cheques, registration labels, reward cards, personal letters, brochures and property bought online. The total value was $623.
When police caught her, most of the mail was found unopened at her home or in the car she used.
Defence counsel Tom Smedley asked for the woman’s interim name suppression to be continued to the sentencing because she was undergoing psychiatric assessment which would provide material for the court to consider.
Judge Jane Farish granted the suppression “until final disposition of the case”.
Category: Focus
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