Abington Postal Worker Accused of Theft Waives Hearing

The Philadelphia woman accused of stealing gift cards and cash out of greeting cards while working at an Abington post office waived her preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon.

Jamie Pamela Fletcher, 25, of the 5800 block of Chew Avenue, arrived at district court without an attorney; she told District Justice John Kessler that the attorney she had retained dropped her case because "she could not pay." Kessler then explained what a preliminary hearing is to Fletcher and said, “I highly recommend that you have an attorney in this matter because there are some serious charges here.”

When asked if she wanted to waive her preliminary hearing, Fletcher nodded.

Abington Detective Lisa Burton suggested waiving the felony charge of "unlawful use of a computer and other computer crimes" and asked to add another count of theft.

Stealing gift cards and cash

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a U.S. Postal Service Special Agent reached out to Abington Police in mid-April regarding an investigation of theft at the post office in the 1900 block of Keith Road. The agent’s investigation revealed that an employee, Fletcher — whose duties included sorting and collecting mail — was stealing gift cards and money out of greeting cards.

The special agent, according to the affidavit, had gotten several complaints from people who said that they had used the post office to mail greeting cards containing cash and gift cards; each of those people said that the envelopes and greeting cards had arrived at their destinations, but that they were empty.

According to the affidavit, three Abington residents had mailed greeting cards containing Target gift cards at the Abington post office around late February and early March. All three of the gift cards — totaling $90 — were used in the purchase of a $276 television at the Target in Cheltenham. 

Also, as part of the investigation, the special agent on April 4 mailed three greeting cards at the Abington post office to herself. According to the affidavit, two of the envelopes contained a greeting card and a $20 Target gift card; and one envelope had a greeting card and a $25 Target gift card. The special agent received all of the envelopes, but no gift cards. 

According to the affidavit, Fletcher is seen on a Cheltenham Target surveillance photo using two of the gift cards to make a purchase, along with another unidentified woman.

A representative from Target was sitting in the court room.

On April 12, police said Fletcher gave a voluntary written statement at police headquarters admitting to stealing several gift cards and “about $500” from mailed envelopes while working at the post office between January and April. She also admitted to using stolen Target gift cards to buy a television and personal items, according to police.

Fletcher is scheduled to be formally arraigned July 17 at the Montgomery County Courthouse.