Interesting Call Today From a Postal Inspector

wayneherndon

He told me they had one of their employees on videotape opening and resealing on of the packages we'd shipped to a customer. They apprehended him and searched him and he didn't have anything in his pockets. He asked me for permission to reopen the package which I gave. All the contents were intact. Unfortunately, he said they need to hold the package and contents as evidence. So, I'll now have to work it out with my customer. But, sounds like another mail thief will be put out of commission.

WH

kieferscoins

Too bad they didn't catch him with contents of the package in his pockets. Then it would be a closed case.

Cameron Kiefer

ss350camaro

Wierd? I wonder why he'd go to the trouble of opening it, take nothing, and re-seal it ?

K6AZ

Wayne, you're in Northern VA aren't you? Did the inspector say which facility this happened at? I had a box with a couple of pretty toned Morgans that disappeared, they were mailed here in the Richmond area going to Bowie MD. The USPS internal tracking showed it arrived at their Dulles sort facility, and that is where it disappeared. The PO gave me no trouble on the insurance claim, but I and my buyer would have much rather had the coins than a refund.

dimples

One for the good guys

Robgetty

Glad to know that they have internal monitoring to catch such issues.

Russ

Wayne,

He opened the package, checked the contents and didn't take any of the coins? Aren't your feelings at least a little bit hurt?

Russ, NCNE

wayneherndon

Eric, this was at the Dulles sort facility. It may be due to prior incidents such as the one you mentioned that they were filming in the first place.

Cameron, case will still be closed. Rifling mail (whether they keep the contents or not) is illegal.

Russ, they had no idea they were coins before opening the package (no indication on the outside). Once opened, they found five quarters inside and probably had no idea as to the value. They probably thought it was $1.25 (or at least that's all they could get for it). The package was not insured (we use private insurance) so there was no indication that the coins had any value to the would-be thief. That's one reason (of many) I prefer private insurance to the postal variety.

WH

WaterSport

Maybe he was a former NTC employee and could not figure out the grade


WS

JoshL

<< <i>Wayne,

He opened the package, checked the contents and didn't take any of the coins? Aren't your feelings at least a little bit hurt?

Russ, NCNE >>



LOL

MoneyLA

You'll recall that about a year or so ago (time flies, even I can't remember exactly) a postal employee in Orange County, CA near PCGS was arrested after a PR70 Washington was "lost." I was sending it back to PCGS because I didnt think it warranted the PR70 grade. One of our forum members noticed the coin was for sale on Teletrade and notified me and I notified the postal inspectors -- the postal inspectors investigated and the arrest followed.

This stuff does go on making it important that valuable coins are always sent REGISTERED so there is a signature and responsibility every step of the way.

cheers, alan mendelson

Shamika

<< <i>Unfortunately, he said they need to hold the package and contents as evidence. >>


I'd be going CRAZY if I were you. UGGGGHHH!!!!

K6AZ

<< <i>Eric, this was at the Dulles sort facility. It may be due to prior incidents such as the one you mentioned that they were filming in the first place. >>



I suspected as much. Before I became ill, I used to make deliveries of bulk mail to that hub, and I wasn't impressed by the type of people they had working there. The people that work at the hubs are not your typical high paid postal employees, they make far less than postal clerks.

As is usual, most thieves aren't very smart. A bright person would realize that people would be missing expensive items like that, and the PO can track blue label insureds every step of the way, to where they can tell where the item disappeared. I'd be willing to bet this is the same thief who stole my coins. I hope they throw the book at him.

clackamas

<< <i>Wierd? I wonder why he'd go to the trouble of opening it, take nothing, and re-seal it ? >>



If you are going to commit a felony, do it big, not for a small (maybe couple of hundred dollar coin).

morgannut2

Glad I waited to sent my box to PCGS this week. It would have gone through Dulles. Close call!

K6AZ

Registered mail doesn't go through Dulles. As a matter of fact, these days I won't send anything worth more than $400 any other way but registered.