Parcel delivery man stole mobile phones
A parcel delivery worker stole brand new iPhones destined for customers by hiding them in his clothing, a court was told.
Hardeep Somal, from Smethwick, stole four mobile phones worth £2,040 from parcel delivery firm DPD, his employer of just 12 weeks. The 19-year-old sneaked into the toilets of the Oldbury firm and removed packaging on the phones before hiding them in his clothing and socks and leaving work, Sandwell Magistrates Court heard yesterday.
He sold one iPhone 4 on to the friend of a friend for £200. He was rumbled by CCTV cameras and stopped by internal security in the toilets trying to steal two of the phones, an iPhone 5 and a Samsung Galaxy.
Mrs Kelly Crowe, prosecuting, said when Somal was stopped by security he tossed the Samsung phone he had stolen into the bin, saying: "No-one wants a Galaxy." The iPhone 5 was in his shoe when he was caught. Somal pleaded guilty to theft by employee from October 4 to 9 this year.
Mrs Crowe said: "CCTV suggested the defendant took one mobile into the toilet and removed the packaging and then concealed it. He did this on three occasions. Three of the phones were recovered, one from a shoebox in his bedroom. On the last occasions, an iPhone 5 was recovered from his sock and the Samsung Galaxy from the bin."
In police interview Somal, of Davidson Road, said the temptation to steal the phones was too great to resist, the court heard.
Mr Andrew Chowdhury, defending, said Somal stole the phones to help pay bills at home. He also highlighted his early guilty plea.
Somal was handed a 12-month community order yesterday, ordered to do 200 hours of community work, pay £529 compensation to DPD, and £85 court costs.
