Newspaper delivery person caught stealing mail

A Summerland Key woman was caught stealing mail from mailboxes on Big Torch Key early Thursday.

A man who lives on Dorn Road, Big Torch Key called the Sheriff’s Office because he said someone had been taking mail from his mailbox at the entrance to his property. He said he was planning to send a birthday card with cash in it to his daughter in Virginia, but was afraid it would be stolen.

Detectives David Cruz and Spencer Curry called the man and made a plan to catch the suspect in the act. At 12:30 a.m., the detectives responded to the man’s home. They had him put the piece of mail in the mailbox. They then installed a trail camera near the mailbox, and parked a short distance away in an unmarked Sheriff’s Office car to watch the mailbox.

Shortly after 1 a.m., a vehicle pulled up. When it pulled away, the detectives checked the mailbox and the card was gone. There was also a Key West Citizen newspaper newly delivered, hanging on the mailbox door.

The detectives stopped the vehicle, which was driven by 59 year old Jill Hish. The card was in the car, sitting on the top of a pile of newspapers. It had been ripped open.

Hish was issued a notice to appear in court on theft charges. The U.S. Postmaster’s Office will be notified of the incident in case they wish to investigate further.

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