Royal Mail parcel thief threatened to stab postman as he chased her down | UK | News

An opportunistic thief opened the rear door of a Royal Mail van and tried to steal packages while the postman was emptying a postbox. Tegan Harker, 20, snatched the large parcel on West Lane in central Middlesbrough.

Upon returning to his van on October 27, the postman noticed a warning light indicating his back door was ajar. He stepped out to secure it and spotted Harker walking away with the package.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the courageous postman pursued her and a scuffle ensued as he attempted to retrieve the parcel. Harker threatened the Royal Mail worker, saying she would “stab him” if he didn’t release his grip.

He contacted the police, and upon their arrival, she abandoned the parcel. The package was subsequently returned to its rightful owner.

Harker appeared before the court on Monday having admitted to theft from a motor vehicle and breaching a suspended sentence order. She had received the suspended sentence in May for a public order offence and being found in possession of a knife in public, reports Teeside Live.

However, she subsequently missed two rehabilitation appointments with the probation service, which formed part of her sentence conditions.

In mitigation, Nicholas Ayres informed the court that following Harker’s release after being remanded for the thefts, “she had nothing. She was homeless”. Mr Ayres explained that his client developed an addiction to crack cocaine and in August, she discovered her boyfriend deceased in his home.

Harker made her court appearance via video link from HMP Low Newton, where Mr Ayres stated she has been provided with medication to assist in overcoming her crack addiction.

Judge Ayesha Smart enforced the two-year suspended sentence that Harker had violated, and added an extra 10 days for the parcel theft. Harker, who has no fixed abode, will serve half of the sentence before being released.