And how awful for all her customers, missing the special bits of mail that make life beautiful.

We've had mail lost too, and I always wonder who took it.

Nearly all of the letter carriers are being hired as temps with lower wages and no benfits. The last time I checked it was around 16 bucks an hour. I had the same letter carrier for fifteen years and now I get a different temp all the time. I can understand how someone trying to feed four children on a low wage job would be desperate. Temps are hired for one year, get a 2 week unpaid lay off and then are rehired for another year.

You're excusing her theft?

Why?

This person Knew what she was doing. It was just a matter of time that the agents caught her. She gambled her job and life for petty cash. I know that the first week of work all employees are told that theft will not be accepted. I do not care if she was temporary or full time. All postal workers are held to a higher standard or morals and ethics. I hope she is given the maximum time in prison to think about her theft. This person shamed her family and friends.........COOK THE BASTARD

That's nearly $1200 after taxes every two weeks. It's not quite what I make, but it's close. This lady just got greedy and dumb. Should have gotten a better paying job if she couldn't make it. Or just get better with money.
Now she's screwed up her life. No sympathy.

16 an hour might be okay for a someone with no kids, but a mother of four making that much would probably qualify for food stamps in many areas. OTOH, people shouldn't be having kids they can't afford.

With a wife and 2 kids, and the only income in the home. It sucks, but it's better than spending the next 15-20 in prison. I've worked 2 jobs at a time. Did some dangerous stuff. But I never stole anything. When my son was 8 months old, he had horrible diaper rash. Had to go 3 days without any cream once because I had to wait to get paid. I could have put it in the bottom of the stroller, really easily. But I didn't do it because it would have been wrong.
Again, no sympathy.

I'm just trying to understand her motivations, and pointing out the fact that 16 bucks an hour isn't a whole lot for someone with a sizable family. Of course that's no excuse to steal, but we shouldn't pretend that 16 an hour is a lot of money. It's barely enough to comfortably support one person in most places.

Isn't this a Federal crime?

If you steal mail, you could be facing serious punishment under US Code Section 1708. Because the USPS is a federal agency, mail theft is charged as a federal offense. Conviction of any federal crime, even mail theft, can result in significant federal prison time and fines.

https://www.wklaw.com/mail-theft-a-federal-offense/

In addition to the theft itself, tapering with mail is a felony. She’s going to do a good amount of time in prison.

Somebody’s told her about birth control.

...a social safety net to catch her children while she spirals down. Our country sure as hell is not going to provide her with one.

what a shame she chose to steal what she was trusted to deliver. Now her 4 children will be without their mother for a period of time.

Just deliver the mail. Except in cases of government shutdowns, you pretty much can't lose/be fired from this job unless you actively try.

The Post Office has some of the best investigators around. It looks among its own for the smartest most dedicated people to catch the crooks. Deep within the system is an idea, "Don't steal the mail" Also, no matter what the excuse, the Post Office wants maximum penalty. In the past, when I have read this kind of news, and sentencing takes place, the government/Post Office asks and gets maximum time in jail. Why? When caught, maximum penalty, as a deterrent to other potential thieves
..So there is a "plea deal" And therefore, instead of 10 years in jail, it is 7 years in jail. One of the smartest most honest, people I know, worked for the Post Office for many years. His boss asked him to apply to be a postal inspector. He did not want the job, because it meant traveling, which he did not want to do. He told me there is a unsung rule in the Post Office.."Don't steal the mail, you will get caught" And as this story tells, this 20 year old, with 4 children,,, got caught. I believe she will get close to "maximum time." No matter what the excuse is.

when the fascists get their way and privatize USPS. No more unions, no more good paying jobs, just a high turnover minimum wage force handling your mail.

not being delivered by USPO. They had these ideas to improve success:

1. When possible, deliver the cash gift in person. Never mail cash to anyone. (Some parents will steal from their kids.)
2. If you must use the mail, send a check. Postal inspectors have a better chance in tracking stolen checks.
3. Use a business envelope instead of a festive one with party colors, greetings, images.
4. Address the envelope to a parent, not a child. When multiple plain business envelopes arrive within a few days for a child, the thief suspects there is a special event for the child and will steal all mail addressed to the child.
5. In advance, tell a parent that the gift is coming by mail.
6. Always report postal theft to postal inspectors.

... or at least, that used to be the case. When the employee gets hired there's a security check (including credit check) that needs to happen before they become full-time. It may sound discriminatory, but the real reason they do it is to prevent exactly this type of pilferage/theft that happened in Wauwatosa.