Elmhurst Mail Carrier Steals 117 Checks: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst postal carrier was arrested this week in connection with stealing checks from businesses and residents on his route, authorities said Wednesday.

Keevon Dockery, 22, of Chicago, was charged with five counts of identity theft and one count of aggravated identity theft. All charges are felonies.

On Oct. 20, an Elmhurst officer was called to a local business for a report of check fraud involving five checks sent by the business to clients, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. The checks were fraudulently deposited, police said.

On Monday, while conducting surveillance, authorities saw Dockery's mail truck leave its route and park near a wooded area. He walked into the woods, where he left three mail bins of undelivered mail, prosecutors said.

Officers continued their surveillance and detained Dockery as he was returning to his personal car after his shift. He was found with checks totaling about $20,000 intended for businesses and residents on his route, authorities said. Through an investigation, police found that Dockery had stolen 117 checks totaling about $40,000 to customers on his route, prosecutors said.

"It is alleged that Mr. Dockery betrayed the public’s trust and stole mail from postal customers," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. "I want to stress, however, that the alleged actions of one rogue postal carrier is in no way indicative of the hard-working men and women of the U.S. Postal Service who perform their duties with integrity and professionalism day in and day out. I thank the Elmhurst Police Department for uncovering this alleged scheme and bringing it to our attention."

Docker's bond was set at $100,000. For release, he is required to pay 10 percent.