Postal Worker Accused of Stealing While On Mahwah Route: Police

A postal worker was arrested by Mahwah Police and the United States Postal authorities for stealing gift and credit cards from Mahwah residents on her route, police said.

Jaleesa Smith, 27, of Orange was charged with three counts of theft by unlawfully exercising control over moveable property and one count of knowingly using a stolen gift card, police said.

According to police, Smith admitted she stole various gift cards and credit cards while she delivered mail to Mahwah residents.

Police said Smith would use these cards for her own personal purchases. She was even caught on store surveillance cameras wearing her postal worker uniform while she used stolen cards.

Smith “would determine that there was a gift (i.e. Visa, Master Card, Costco gift cards) or credit card in an envelope by feeling it or by the labeling on the outside of the envelope,” Police Chief James N. Batelli said Wednesday.

Smith started work as a postal officer in Mahwah in Sept. 2015. Since this time, Mahwah police said they filed two stolen gift card reports from Mahwah residents who expected their cards to arrive in the mail. When the residents called the companies to say their cards never arrived, the companies told them that the cards had already been used, police said.

If Mahwah residents believe that a gift or credit card intended to be delivered to their home was stolen between Sept. 2015 and Aug. 2016, they're advised to contact Detective Kevin Herbert at 201-529-1000 ext. 220 or the United States Postal authorities at www.uspoig.com