"Contents were missing:" USPS carrier accused of stealing thousands of first-class mail

WAUKESHA -- Thousands of pieces of mail go missing in and around Waukesha. Federal investigators are put on the case and that mail has turned up...inside a postal workers' house and personal car. FOX6 News is told the theft included both standard mail and first-class letter mail. Authorities are now trying to put a price tag on the amount that was taken.

USPSOn the list of professions you trust to just get the job done, mail carriers have got to rank near the top. Which is why news of one Waukesha area employee stealing mail seems to catch some residents by surprise. "That's shocking. I mean, all the people that you trust in the world, you would think the mailman would deliver the right stuff for you and not take it," said David Morris, Waukesha resident. Within the last month, some customers started complaining about not receiving their mail. "Specifically contents of greeting cards. The greeting cards arrived either opened or had an indication that they'd been opened and the contents were missing," said Office of the Inspector General Assistant Special Agent in charge, Jeff Arney. Jeff Arney of the Office of the Inspector General, says agents started investigating and were pointed to a city carrier associate in the Waukesha area.

USPS"It was in the thousands of pieces. And that included both standard mail and first-class letter mail," said Arney. Arney says the man confessed to stealing mail and opening mail for its contents. At this point, they're still trying to figure out exactly what was taken, which means they can't yet put a dollar amount on the theft. The man is currently on emergency placement while the investigation continues. The case will also go to the U.S. Attorney's Office. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will then take it forward for the criminal prosecution through some type of charging, whether that's information or a grand jury indictment -- something along those lines," said Arney. Arney says there might have been multiple victims on multiple routes. If you think you might have been victimized and would like to report it, CLICK HERE.