Thief jailed for stealing unattended packages

A Shanghai man has been sentenced to six months in jail for stealing packages from express couriers while they were away from their vehicles on deliveries, Jing'an District People's Court said Thursday. The items in the packages were valued at 4,304 yuan ($703).

The unidentified defendant stole packages that couriers left unattended on their vehicles. He targeted vehicles parked outside office buildings on Nanjing Road West, according to a court press release.

On June 4, he stole four packages from the motorcycle of a courier who was on a delivery inside United Plaza, the court said. The packages contained a mobile phone and cosmetics worth 3,268 yuan in total.

Ten days later, he took four more parcels from a delivery vehicle, but was caught by police.

The defendant told police that he stole from couriers because they usually left their vehicles unattended on the side of the road while they made their deliveries.

He also admitted that he began stealing from couriers as early as six years ago. Local courts sentenced him to 22 months in prison in 2008 and 11 months in 2011.

The unemployed defendant usually sold some of the stolen items at a secondhand market near the intersection of Qiujiang and Baoshan roads in Zhabei district, according to the press release.

He used the money to cover his living expenses and buy lottery tickets.

The court advised express couriers to park their vehicles near security offices or ask someone to look after them while they are away. If the couriers are carrying valuables, the court suggested they carry their packages with them.

The defendant was also fined 2,500 yuan.