Mail carrier allegedly steals credit card, spends more than $4K at Home Depot

HATBORO, Pa (WPVI) -- Hatboro police are urging residents to review their financial accounts after investigators say a mail carrier stole a credit card from a local resident and used it to make thousands of dollars in purchases.

Police said the suspect, 32-year-old Rashuan McCall of Philadelphia, is charged with access device fraud and identity theft.

Neighbors said they were alarmed to learn the suspect worked as a mail carrier.

"It's frightening because he was a letter carrier and we trust them to deliver our mail securely," said neighbor Lori Colibraro.

Detectives said the theft occurred in early July from a resident on Edward Road.

"We had a resident in Hatboro come in to report fraud on a Home Depot credit card she was expecting in the mail, but it never came through," said Detective Sgt. Conner Dilks.

Police said surveillance images show McCall spending more than $4,000 at a Home Depot in Philadelphia's Somerton neighborhood. Dilks said investigators quickly identified the suspect.

"It was surprising because typically we won't find people being that brazen, and when we were able to relatively quickly put 2 and 2 together, it was a sigh of relief."

Based on the investigation, police believe the case may not be isolated. The U.S. Postal Service said McCall had been employed as a city carrier assistant at the Hatboro location since January.

Neighbors said they are now being more cautious with their mail.

"It was not our regular mail carrier; it was a sub. So thankful for that, and we're just checking our credit scores," neighbor Meena Knoebel said. "I told the kids because they get a lot of credit card mail and just keep track of the accounts."

Court documents show McCall has prior convictions, including robbing a financial institution and simple assault.

"It kinda makes you wonder how he was able to become a mail carrier," Knoebel said.

The Postal Service said it does not comment on administrative actions. Some residents said they hope hiring procedures improve.

"Just that they screen the letter carriers better," Colibraro said. "They're looking into their past and making sure they don't have any criminal history."

Police continue to urge residents to report suspicious activity. The victim told police she is still working with her credit card company to resolve the fraudulent charges and recommends signing up for the Postal Service's free Informed Delivery service, which provides images of incoming mail.