Mail theft includes
dozens of credit cards

Hundreds of personal identification
numbers were also stolen

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By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

A 20-year employee of the airport post office who allegedly took mail in exchange for cash and drugs, made thousands of dollars off several stolen credit cards, according to a source close to the investigation.

The source, who requested anonymity, also said that the mail stolen included hundreds of credit card personal identification numbers as well as dozens of actual credit cards and bank automated-teller cards. An undetermined number of federal income tax refund checks were also discovered among the stolen mail, the source said.

U.S. Postal Inspectors confirmed Monday that the 45-year-old employee has been placed under emergency suspension without pay while a joint investigation involving another law enforcement agency continues.

The source told the Star-Bulletin that the suspect had been stealing mail for more than a year to support a crystal methamphetamine addiction.

The suspect was last seen at his mother's Kapiolani Boulevard residence on July 22 and has not been seen since, according to the source. While postal inspectors said they are not trying to arrest the suspect, he is being sought by another law enforcement agency on several drug-related offenses.

Authorities say the case reinforces the need for the public to keep track of their credit ratings to make sure they have not become a victim of identity theft or credit card fraud.

Anyone wishing to check whether someone has been using their credit for unauthorized transactions can do so with several credit bureaus. They include Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.

To order a credit report, call 1-800-685-1111 for Equifax; 1-888-397-3742 for Experian (formerly TRW); and 1-800-916-8800 for Trans Union. The bureaus may charge a fee ($2-$20) for a report, although the fee may be waived in some cases.

Those wishing to report suspected tax fraud activity from forged refund checks can call the U.S. Treasury Department hotline at 1-800-829-0433.