Stephanie Lacroix, a former postal carrier in Harvard, was arrested last Friday, Nov. 16, for mail theft and then arraigned in U.S. District Court in Worcester later the same day. According to the Nov. 18 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Lacroix, who lives in Fitchburg, charged $37,000 to credit cards and gift cards she stole from mailboxes belonging to more than 30 Harvard residents.
Earlier this year, the Harvard Police Department began receiving numerous reports of missing mail, especially envelopes that contained new credit cards or gift cards. Mail theft is a federal crime, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General opened an investigation last spring.
In an affidavit cited by the Worcester paper, Special Agent Brian J. Martineau said the probe focused on Lacroix because the mail thefts all took place along her route. Martineau described using surveillance cameras secretly installed in Lacroix’s mail truck and in the Harvard post office to gather evidence in the case.
With those cameras, Martineau said he saw Lacroix take envelopes at the post office, put them in her purse, and then open them once she was in her truck. He said he also saw her use a glass pipe to smoke a substance she took from a plastic baggie.
After observing those actions Aug. 6, Martineau and police officers from Harvard pulled Lacroix’s truck over and took her to the police station for questioning, but she was not arrested at the time. The investigation continued under federal control, and Lacroix was eventually arrested and arraigned last week.
At the arraignment Lacroix was notified of the charges against her and assigned a court-appointed attorney. After arraignment she was released without bail, but she was required to turn in her passport and undergo drug tests.
Detective Daniele Fortunato confirmed the events and arraignment. She said the Harvard Police Department will continue the investigation, and additional charges may result from those findings.
