Thieves Caught on Camera
In 1977, New York City thieves stole a shipment of Registered Mail containing over $40,000 in U.S. Postage from a mail truck. Postal Inspectors jumped on the case.
The Crime
On June 20, 1977, thieves stole a shipment of Registered Mail containing over $40,000 in U.S. Postage from a mail truck in New York City, and Postal Inspectors launched their investigation to find the culprits. During the investigation, inspectors determined that postage was stolen three separate times on the same route between 1976 and 1977. In response, they set up surveillance on the route to catch the thieves in the act.
The Crime Cont.
While performing surveillance in November 1977, inspectors observed three men approach a parked mail truck in front of the Empire State Building. Michele Cermolla and Christopher Cabrera approached the back of the truck, while a third man, Vincent Johnson, acted as a lookout for the carrier to return. Using a counterfeit key, Cermolla opened the lock on the back of the mail truck and handed over five registered packages to Johnson and Cabrera, who quickly loaded them into a get-a-way van. Postal Inspectors immediately arrested the three men.
Arrest & Punishment
After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, inspectors discovered multiple tools for picking locks and safes, along with other items that made it clear these men were advanced thieves. Inspectors also recovered the five stolen registered parcels that contained U.S. postage valued at over $53,000. On November 28, 1977, all three men were indicted for the thefts. In February 1978, each man was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.
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