Postal Carrier Felt Overworked, Came Up With a Plan

Jason Delacruz didn't have time to deliver all the mail on his route, so ... he put it in a storage locker. The United States Postal Service employee pleaded guilty to delay of mail after more than 200 pieces of first- and second-class mail were found in a storage unit he was renting in Virginia Beach for $49 a month, WAVY reports. Also there: 4,723 pieces of advertisement mail, six ad/coupon bundles, and one package. Delacruz, who started working as a USPS carrier assistant in June 2018, told authorities he felt "pressured" to complete his route but "can't make time." He said he started hiding mail in November or December 2018, and by February 2019, had decided to rent the storage unit solely to hold the mail, WTKR reports. He told authorities "he first intended to deliver the mail when he found time, but fell behind and was never able to."

On May 29, 2019, someone saw him unloading mail into the storage unit, took pictures, and complained to the USPS Office of Inspector General. The OIG found Delacruz and interviewed him, and after first denying the allegations, he ultimately confessed. The first-class mail, which included tax return documents and correspondence from the DMV, IRS, insurance companies, and banks, was delivered, but since the advertisement mail was so old it was disposed of. Delacruz will be sentenced Feb. 12. (More weird crimes stories.)