Two drug-taking brothers raided an apartment block and filled 'swag bags' with other people's parcels. Vance and Leroy Bailey admitted burglary after gaining access to the Farrier Building near Manchester city centre.
They intended to sell items on to fund their habit. But they were left empty-handed after a security guard confronted them.
The siblings filled bags with deliveries that had been left in the foyer at the apartment block. Manchester Crown Court heard the brothers, who regularly took Class A drugs, entered the courtyard via the main gate, on Lockside Lane, usually opened by residents' key fobs, at 2pm on September 21 last year.
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Once inside, Leroy grabbed the handle of the door and 'yanked' it with such force the magnetic locking system disconnected and allowed them to get inside. The pair filled up bags with other people's parcels.
Prosecuting, Amanda Johnson said: "Once inside, there are post boxes and parcels are left by delivery drivers. The area is covered by CCTV. Both opened their bags and put parcels inside as quickly as they could and then made a quick exit towards Lockside Lane."
The brothers were then seen on the CCTV by a security guard, who confronted the pair. "The bags were open and parcels were spilling out," Ms Johnson added. "They ignored [the security guard] and kept walking towards Oldfield Road."
Two maintenance workers then went to help the guard. Vance asked one of the men 'why he was bothered' because it 'wasn't his stuff'.
"They kept walking, but were then apprehended by a maintenance worker who grabbed the bags," Ms Johnson said. "Leroy stepped towards one of them in an aggressive manner. He pushed him away and they left the scene, so all parcels were recovered.
"Both of them were then identified by a PCSO. When interviewed, both defendants denied it was them in the CCTV footage. There was clearly an element of planning and organisation because they had bags with them."
Vance, who appeared in court via video link, was already on licence for a previous offence of handling stolen goods. In July, 2021, a photographer cameras and equipment worth £17,000 stolen from his car. He later discovered the items had been sold through Cash Generator.
Police established Vance, 44, of Kiwi Street, Salford, had been in the shop the day after the theft and had been paid for the equipment. He pleaded guilty in respect of that offence February. He has 40 previous convictions for 70 offences.
Leroy, 46, of Rosehill Close, Salford, was also serving a suspended sentence for a 'non-dwelling' burglary offence and has been on an electronic tag for a number of months. He has 33 previous convictions for 93 offences.
In mitigation, Jane Miller said: "Vance is a man who has had issues and difficulties with Class A controlled substances, as does his brother. They were helped and supported by their mother who tried to dissuade them from their use. She sadly died and Vance Bailey took over her tenancy, but is going to lose that as a result of sentencing today.
"In relation to the events in September, both were having a crisis in relation to Class A drugs, using them on a regular basis.
"On that day they were looking for something to acquire to feed their habit. The gate was open, the parcels were there and they took them. The idea would be to sell the items to secure funds to fund their habit.
"Both are hoping to address the issues they have in the past."
Sentencing the pair, Judge Timothy Clayson said: "It was fortunate people were courageous enough to intervene. They were operating as a couple and decided to try their luck with this premises. They had, in old fashion terms, swag bags with them that indicates some degree of planning.
"This was seen by a security guard, but you ignored him as you made away. This was before a confrontation with two maintenance workers who came to assist. Their intervention resulted in you leaving the parcels and making off.
"Very sadly, you both have problems with drug addiction, resulting in long records of criminal offending."
Vance was sentenced to 28 months. Leroy was sentenced to two years and 11 months.
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