Camera helps man thwart newspaper thefts

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Jake Worthington, standing left, his wife, Angela, and their children, 5-year-old Gracie and 3-year-old Colby fill the newspaper box at The News Courier office in Athens. News Courier/Rebecca Croomes

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July 1, 2012

Camera helps man thwart newspaper thefts

3 women arrested so far

By Jean Cole jean@athensnews-courier.com The News Courier Sun Jul 01, 2012, 02:00 AM CDT

— Jake Worthington was tired of people stealing his newspapers, so he took action.

He bought cameras at the spy store in Madison in 2011 and installed them on the newspaper boxes to which he delivers.

Using videotaped evidence, he has had three people arrested for stealing newspapers.

“I’ve got two kids and one on the way, and they are taking food off my table,” Worthington said.

As a contract carrier for both The News Courier and The Huntsville Times, Worthington buys papers from the two businesses and then delivers them to newspaper boxes at stores and other locations. When someone steals papers — for the coupons or for some other reason — they are actually stealing from Worthington, because he has to pay for the papers whether or not he receives money for them.

Although his newspaper route is only a part of his income — he also runs Worthington Lawn Care — he relies on it to help provide for his family.

Since installing the cameras in 2011, three women have been arrested on charges of third-degree theft for taking papers. Typically, a person will pay for one paper but take anywhere from one to five more from the boxes.

So far, the following residents have been charged:

• Kristy Diane Key, 22, of 16755 Freemont Drive in Athens, was arrested Jan. 27 for paying for one paper but taking two from a newspaper box at Dollar General at East Limestone and Capshaw roads on Jan. 22, according to court records. She pleaded guilty to the charge in Limestone County District Court, records show. Judge Jeanne Anderson sentenced her to pay $100 in restitution to Worthington and to serve 20 hours of community service, court records show.

• Angela Ezell Hart, 39, of 27611 Juanita Drive in Athens, was arrested Dec. 7, 2011, for stealing papers from the same box at Dollar General on Dec. 3, 2011, according to court records. On Feb. 29, 2012, Judge Anderson ordered her to serve 180 days in jail, with 172 days of those days suspended, court records show. The judge ordered her to pay a $100 fine plus court costs, ordered her to pay $4.50 to Worthington, and ordered her to serve 24 months on probation, records show. Hart’s attorney, John Totten of Athens, has filed an appeal. Trial is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2012.

• Angelina Wakefield, 50, of 402 Holloway St. NW in Hartselle, was arrested March 6 for allegedly stealing five papers from the Dollar General box on Sept. 18, 2011, court records show. A bench trial is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Although Worthington’s actions may seem merciless, he said he loses an average of 50 papers a month to theft.

“Sunday I had 45 papers stolen around town and the week before I had 67 stolen,” said Worthington, who has been delivering papers for four years.

He wants would-be thieves to know he is watching them, and he hopes they will think twice before stealing papers.