thieves caught inside memworth hill
this is leeds | 18.05.2002 10:28
The Spied Swiper
BY PAUL JEEVES
PACKED with millions of pounds worth of hi-tech electronic hardware, the Menwith Hill spy base is at the nerve centre of the West's war against terrorism.
But despite boasting enough equipment to be able to infiltrate Saddam Hussein's e-mails, it took three years for security experts to uncover who was stealing apple sauce and coffee from the special on-site supermarket.
Covert security cameras had to be installed to watch night shift workers stocking shelves after goods worth £25,000 – specially packaged for Americans servicemen and not meant to be taken outside – went missing in one 12-month period.
Finally nightshift supervisor Michael Smith, 59, – a church bell ringer – and storeman Adrian Campbell, 32, were discovered smuggling cold meats, fish, vegetables and other provisions off the base.
Appearing before Harrogate Magistrates, ex-serviceman Smith, who worked at Menwith Hill for 23 years, admitted regular pilfering between July 2000 and March this year, but could not remember exactly how much he had taken. Smith admitted four theft charges and asked for four others to be considered. He was ordered to complete 200 hours community service.
Campbell, of Avenue Place, Starbeck, Harrogate, was ordered in April to complete 80 hours community service after he admitted two thefts and asked for two others to be considered.
Suspicions were aroused when a discrepancy of £25,000 was found between the takings and stock.
Covert
Prosecutor Rodney Noon said: "Covert video cameras were installed so staff working in the shop overnight could be observed."
Police later raided Smith's home at High Crest, Pateley Bridge, and recovered £70 of stock including ham, pain-relieving gel, vapo rub, coffee, apple sauce, vegetables, steak, and cooked shrimp. Mr Noon said there was no suggestion Smith, who is married with two stepchildren, had been responsible for stealing all the missing property.
Sandra Mullen, for Smith, said: "There seems to have been a culture of petty theft at this organisation, which has gone on over a long period of time. We cannot say who was responsible for stealing what over the course of two or three years."
She added Smith had been awarded a long-service medal for good conduct during his military service and was of impeccable character.
A churchgoer and bell ringer, he had been humiliated by being locked up and appearing in court.
Menwith Hill – famous for its large white "golf-ball" structures – is one of the largest electronic monitoring stations in the world and is run by the US National Security Agency
http://thisisleeds.co.uk/scripts/editorial2.cgi?cid=news/leeds&aid=460497
BY PAUL JEEVES
PACKED with millions of pounds worth of hi-tech electronic hardware, the Menwith Hill spy base is at the nerve centre of the West's war against terrorism.
But despite boasting enough equipment to be able to infiltrate Saddam Hussein's e-mails, it took three years for security experts to uncover who was stealing apple sauce and coffee from the special on-site supermarket.
Covert security cameras had to be installed to watch night shift workers stocking shelves after goods worth £25,000 – specially packaged for Americans servicemen and not meant to be taken outside – went missing in one 12-month period.
Finally nightshift supervisor Michael Smith, 59, – a church bell ringer – and storeman Adrian Campbell, 32, were discovered smuggling cold meats, fish, vegetables and other provisions off the base.
Appearing before Harrogate Magistrates, ex-serviceman Smith, who worked at Menwith Hill for 23 years, admitted regular pilfering between July 2000 and March this year, but could not remember exactly how much he had taken. Smith admitted four theft charges and asked for four others to be considered. He was ordered to complete 200 hours community service.
Campbell, of Avenue Place, Starbeck, Harrogate, was ordered in April to complete 80 hours community service after he admitted two thefts and asked for two others to be considered.
Suspicions were aroused when a discrepancy of £25,000 was found between the takings and stock.
Covert
Prosecutor Rodney Noon said: "Covert video cameras were installed so staff working in the shop overnight could be observed."
Police later raided Smith's home at High Crest, Pateley Bridge, and recovered £70 of stock including ham, pain-relieving gel, vapo rub, coffee, apple sauce, vegetables, steak, and cooked shrimp. Mr Noon said there was no suggestion Smith, who is married with two stepchildren, had been responsible for stealing all the missing property.
Sandra Mullen, for Smith, said: "There seems to have been a culture of petty theft at this organisation, which has gone on over a long period of time. We cannot say who was responsible for stealing what over the course of two or three years."
She added Smith had been awarded a long-service medal for good conduct during his military service and was of impeccable character.
A churchgoer and bell ringer, he had been humiliated by being locked up and appearing in court.
Menwith Hill – famous for its large white "golf-ball" structures – is one of the largest electronic monitoring stations in the world and is run by the US National Security Agency
http://thisisleeds.co.uk/scripts/editorial2.cgi?cid=news/leeds&aid=460497
this is leeds