For years, former United States Postal Office employees have stood before federal judges in Houston and admitted to stealing packages and letters from Harris County residents. They said they’d stolen gift cards, paychecks and other valuables items that were sent through the mail.
USPS officials say employees stealing customers’ mail is not new, nor is the crime on the rise. It’s just one of those things they must keep their eye on.
According to court records, at least 37 USPS workers have been indicted on mail theft charges in Houston since Jan. 1, 2018. Prosecutors say these federal employees are taking advantage of the public’s trust.
“It is an especially heinous crime when postal employees steal from the people who placed their mail in their care,” U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said.