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SCOTIA
Police: Postal carrier stole mail
Man facing felony charge
BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter

   A long-time postal carrier in the Village of Scotia was arrested Thursday and charged with stealing mail intended for residents along his route.
   Scott Gross, 34, of Sixth Street, Scotia, is accused of taking more than $1,100 worth of merchandise, including gift cards, gift certifi - cates, video coupons and even Gillette razors, police said.
   “He would basically sit down and go through it,” Glenville Police Chief Michael Ranalli said. “Because of his familiarity with the envelopes and who sends what, he knew what to look for.”
   Gross was charged with one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony. He was issued an appearance ticket and released to return to court next week.
   Glenville police investigated along with the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General. The Glenville police were involved, Ranalli said, because the thefts were believed to have taken place at the Glenville Post Office on Glenridge Road.
   Gross had been with the Postal Service for at least eight years. He resigned from his position two weeks ago, postal officials said.
   The investigation began in November, when a resident along Gross’ route was expecting a home improvement gift card that never came, Ranalli said.
   The resident checked with the company, which confirmed the card had been sent and suggested it had been intercepted somewhere along the route.
   Then other complaints started coming in of missing items. Police fear many of the victims don’t even know that they are victims, forgetting about rebate checks that never came or other items.
   Investigators were helped along by surveillance footage from the stores where the gift cards were allegedly used, Ranalli said. The footage caught Gross on tape, he said.
   He declined to say when investigators began suspecting Gross.
   He also declined to identify which part of Scotia Gross served. Multiple carriers deliver in the village.
   Ranalli placed Gross’ employment with the Postal Service at eight years. A U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman placed it at 13 years.
   Spokeswoman Maureen Marion declined to comment on the case specifically, but said the integrity of the mail is serious business.
   “All of our employees are instructed and guided from their first hours as employees that the security and safety of the mail is paramount,” Marion said. “If you breach that confidence with the American public, it will result in loss of your employment.”
   It’s also a crime, she said.
   Glenville police asked people who think items were taken from their mail to alert police.

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“If you breach that confidence with the American public, it will result in loss of your employment.”
   It’s also a crime, she said.

Well that's a half truth if I ever heard one----let's see.....Nixon,Clinton, and there is a whole list of representatives and senators too,,not to mention town officials etc......our confidence is as tight as a snare drum......