Post office burglars did it for ‘a joke’

FOUR teenagers burgled a post office in High Crompton “as a joke”, a court heard.

The offenders, who cannot be be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaking into the Thornham Road post office around 2am on June 22 after smashing a front door.

A 15 year old was charged with two counts of burglary, a 14 year old faced two counts of burglary and one of aggravated burglary and two charges of common assault, a 17 yearold was charged with burglary and criminal damage and a 16 year old was charged with one count of burglary.

Sentencing them at Oldham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Brian Rowe said: “If you carry on you will be treated like adults and go to prison.”

Garry Logan, prosecuting, explained how three of the four had trespassed into the building a week earlier and stole goods worth £150.

The 16-year-old fourth defendant joined them on June 22 after a night of drinking to break into the post office. Two witnesses heard the alarm and rushed to the post office. The 14 year old waved a hammer and sprayed a fire extinguisher to allow the others to escape. He was detained until police arrived to arrest him.

A fingerprint left behind on June 15 meant he could be charged with that burglary too. He has denied two charges of assault and will appear before Oldham magistrates on December 23. He is on bail, on condition he doesn’t contact his co-accused.

The other three were found after leaving a rucksack at the post office with their names on paperwork inside.

Graham Whittingham, representing the 15 year old, said: “On the first incident it was simply a comment that was said as they walked past the premises: ‘let’s rob it as a joke’.

“That burglary was committed without any comeback. Emboldened a week later, the suggestion was they try it again. It was very unsophisticated.”

Each of the three will pay compensation of £138 as well as £85 in costs.

The 15 year old was given a referral order of nine months, the 16 year old for six months, and the 17 year old for 12 months.