Cops: Postal worker stole from birthday cards

A letter carrier who delivered mail in Delaware County was fired after authorities discovered he was allegedly stealing money and gift cards out of birthday cards, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

Brian Richard Evans, 24, is facing hundreds of charges, including 286 counts of receiving stolen property in connection with the alleged thefts, says reporter Cindy Scharr.

Evans used the money he allegedly stole to support a drug habit, authorities said.

From Scharr's story:

The former mail carrier was caught back in July stealing mail he was entrusted to have delivered, according to the affidavit of probable cause written by Cpl. Christopher Kennedy and Patrolman John Rafter.

Norwood Postmaster Thomas Eckenrode and Special Agent Maria Bankhead, of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, contacted borough police on July 30 about the thefts.
Eckenrode told investigators he had received several complaints about missing mail.

In response, he and federal agents set up surveillance and planted marked envelopes.
Investigators caught Evens on surveillance tape using two of the marked gift cards at the Target Store in Springfield, the affidavit states.

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.