Man jailed for raid on York post office – after he was found hiding under a canoe

A man has been sent to prison for breaking into a York post office and stealing a large quantity of cigarettes.

Colin Sean Richardson, 32, of Moss Road, Doncaster was today (Wednesday) been sentenced at York Crown Court for burglary after he stole the tobacco from the Select Convenience shop and post office in Huntington.

Shortly after 3.30am on 28 June, North Yorkshire Police officers were called to the post office on North Moor Road after the intruder alarm was triggered – alerting them to a break in.

Officers found the glass door had been smashed in order to gain entry and it became apparent that a large quantity of tobacco had been stolen.

Pleaded guilty

A member of the public told police that two men had been seen fleeing the premises and one appeared to have entered the garden of a nearby property.

Officers commenced searching the garden when one spotted a pair of feet sticking out from under a canoe and realised Richardson was laid on the ground hiding underneath it.

He was arrested and the officers were then able to locate the stolen tobacco in a nearby dustbin.

Richardson today pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Commenting on the case Police Investigator David Pegg of North Yorkshire Police said:

• This case is a clear example of how important the general public are in helping the police by being our eyes and ears.

  It is thanks to the quick thinking member of the public who spotted Richardson entering a nearby garden and reported this to the police, that we were able to locate and arrest him – despite his attempt at a disguise behind the canoe.

  His actions have targeted a small business, causing extensive damage and his sentencing reflects the severity of his crime.
  

It was the second raid on the Huntington post office in weeks. On 23 May burglars smashed their way in and tried to steal from the cash machine.