Thief Caught Selling Stolen Ladder to Former Victim
Attention all you would be ladder thieves: despite what you might have learned from your colleagues, it is not a good idea to try to resell your stolen ladder back to the person you swiped it from. Especially after you were just released for being caught stealing the ladder.
Kevin Gilman has hopefully learned this valuable and seemingly obvious lesson after being arrested twice for crimes involving the same ladder. After he was relased for the theft, he started calling people from the Craigslist ad he had placed. He made the mistake of calling the guy who he stole the ladder from, who turned Gilman in yet again to the Washington County sheriff's office. The sheriff's set up a sting and bought three stolen ladder from Gilman, said sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. David Thompson. Gilman was taken to jail for burglary and theft.
As a refresher, burglary is the unlawful entry into almost any structure (not just a home or business) with intent to commit a crime inside. Physical breaking and entering is not required; the offender may simply trespass through an open door. Burglary differs from robbery, which involves the use of force or fear to obtain another person's property, there is usually no victim present during a burglary.
Kevin Gilman told the police that he works door-to-door marketing for a painting company. When he saw a home with packages on the porch, he would steal them, Thompson said. MSNBC reports Gilman is still in jail, being held on $100,000 bail.
Related Resouces:
- Criminal Law Basics (FindLaw)
- Defending Yourself Against a Criminal Charge (FindLaw)
- Santa Claus Burglar Caught and Tried (FindLaw's Blotter)