A 21-year-old Cobleskill mail carrier has been arrested on charges of stealing numerous gift cards and checks as well as cash from mail that was supposed to be delivered on his route.
Joel C. VanSteele of Schoharie was arrested Wednesday morning on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges after he was allegedly observed actively engaged in the theft of mail while he was on duty earlier that day, according to the Cobleskill Village Police. He was taken into custody without incident.
It is not known how much Mr. VanSteele allegedly stole but it is likely “several thousand dollars,” said Chief Rich Bialkowski.
The Cobleskill Police received its first complaint on March 21 and there have been a total of about 20 complaints about missing mail, Chief Bialkowski added. Some people have reported more than one piece of mail missing. The investigation pointed to a postal employee and the pieces of stolen mail were on Mr. VanSteele’s route.
After receiving multiple complaints of missing mail, the police began an investigation in cooperation with special agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. During the investigation, it was determined that Mr. VanSteele allegedly had stolen gift cards, checks, and cash from several pieces of mail on multiple occasions over the last two months, according to police.
The thefts apparently happened while Mr. VanSteele was one his route, in his vehicle or in the post office, the Chief said.
Mr. VanSteele had a walking and motor route in the Village of Cobleskill.
Now that the case has been publicized, police are expecting more victims to come forward and more charges to be filed, according to Chief Bialkowski.
Mr. VanSteele was charged with two counts of petty larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, one count of second-degree scheme to defraud, a Class A misdemeanor, three counts of second-degree forgery, a Class D felony, three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a Class D felony, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony, and two counts of fourth-degree money laundering, a Class E felony, police said.
He was arraigned in the Town of Cobleskill Court and sent to jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $75,000 bond to return to court Monday afternoon.
The investigation is continuing and more charges are expected.
If anyone on a Village of Cobleskill mail delivery route believes they may have had items stolen from their mail, they are urged to contact Cobleskill Police Department Lieutenant Investigator Jeff Brown at 234-2923 and report the matter so it can be investigated.