The Argus Leader carrier preyed on up to 10 homeowners in South Dakota's Sioux Falls after learning they'd suspended their subscriptions over the holidays, police told KELO-TV.
Patrick VanWagner stole $2,300 in jewelry and rare coins from one home, according to police spokesman Sam Clemens, who said the suspect could be connected to as many as nine more burglaries.
The newspaper says VanWagner's contract has been terminated.
The daily's weekday circulation is 34,240; Sunday is 53,065.
The newspaper says VanWagner's contract has been terminated.
The daily's weekday circulation is 34,240; Sunday is 53,065.
Isn't it bad enough that newspapers are stealing from subscribers by delivering a subpar product ever since more than one-third were RIF-ed? Now we need to have employees actually burglarizing homes? Wow.
ReplyDeleteI bet they still had a pile of newspapers in the driveway also. I haven't had a vacation stop honored in years.
ReplyDeleteGreat...I live in the Argus market and have seen the customer service for delivery decline steadily over the past few years. This will give the few folks who still subscribe one more reason to drop the paper.
ReplyDeletecarriers are independent contractors...NOT employees...although they are treated like employees in most cases.
ReplyDeleteAlso, be assured this is an isolated incident. Around here, carriers have been helpful in calling breakins (not by them), accidents, suspicious persons, and on occasion, even saving lives.
I am with 1:30 p.m. Carriers, Indpendent Contractors are amazing. Truly the unsung heroes. Seven days a week, own supplies, rain, sleet or snow. They profit very little. There are more independent carriers than employees at most papers. This would be something out of the ordinary. Yes, many have reported fires, crimes, etc. If you are out of work because of Gannett, there are still paper routes. Try one and you will be less judgemental.
ReplyDeleteI second what's been said about the hard work by, and little thanks given to, our contract carriers.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been there. In my early teens, I had a seven-day-a-week paper route in Providence, R.I.
I carried about 75 papers daily, and 100 on Sunday. Those included the Sunday editions of the Providence Journal, The New York Times and The Boston Globe, back when Sunday papers were humongous.
Plus (cue violin again), my route started at the bottom of a long hill on a busy street: no fun when you're pulling a wagon full of papers early in the morning on bitterly cold, icy winter days.
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ReplyDeletein wilmington, the carriers were given manifests with phone #'s and vacation dates listed........makes it easy for potential burglars
ReplyDelete2:10, not sure I understand your point. The carriers have to know the vacation dates if they are expected to hold the newspapers instead of delivering them.
ReplyDeleteJim, fix the format, please. This new one is awful.
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