By: E&P Staff Newsrack theft is a chronic but usually petty problem for newspapers, but authorities in Edmonton, Alberta, say a pair of thieves took the crime to extremes -- swiping three dozen vending boxes from city streets and repeatedly breaking into a factory to hide them.
According to a story Thursday by Sun Media reporter Michelle Thompson, Edmonton police spotted the pair taking two boxes early Wednesday morning. After arresting the two, police discovered more than 30 Edmonton Sun newsracks and six more boxes belonging to another newspaper, all stashed in a building in an industrial area of the city.
Police said the two apparently repeatedly broke into the building to hide the racks.
Constable John Frayn told Sun Media it was among the strangest crimes in his 20-plus years on the police force.
Newsracks began disappearing in late October, said Paul Gault, the Sun's single-copy manager.
Total damage to the vending boxes was estimated at $18,400.
Craig Reid, 21, and Lucien Gariepy, 20, now face a variety of charges, Sun Media reported, including theft under $5,000, "shop breaking with intent," possession of break-in instruments, theft over $5,000, mischief over $5,000, and mischief under $5,000.
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