ALINA PANEK, News Editor—Every day, Denison students are likely to get mail containing valuable items, notes with money from grandma, care package from parents and teachers, or even gift cards from generous family members delivered to them through the Slayter mailroom.

Within the past year, an unknown person has capitalized on this knowledge and committed postal theft, a federal crime.

Campus Safety Chief Jim O’Neill confirmed that there is an open investigation on the mailroom incident with the Granville Police Department involved. O’Neill said there were multiple incidents of mail being either diverted, or accessed in the Slayter mailroom.

As of November 15, O’Neill can confirm that there is at least over $100 stolen from the student body Slayter boxes. Campus Safety is still working on determining a timeline of the thefts. There has been no arrest but Campus Safety has confirmed that they have a subject of suspicion who they have been questioning.

Campus Safety is also working with other financial institutions to recover the lost amounts from students and gather evidence.

All mail including packages are sent to the Granville Post Office and then are delivered in the morning daily to the mailroom in Slayter second floor. The student workers distribute the mail into the Slayter boxes and print package slips and notify students about their incoming packages.

Amy Hannahs, the staff supervisor of the mailroom and Assistant Director of Business Services, declined to comment on the issue. It is unknown whether or not if the person under suspicion is currently on staff.

The Denisonian also reached out to one of the mailroom student supervisors, Elizabeth Lowman ’20, who has also been instructed to decline comment by Hannahs.

The punishment for the suspect, if found guilty, could be steep. Under the U.S. Code § 1708, according to the Legal Information Institute, “Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter, whoever buys, receives, or conceals, or unlawfully has in his possession… shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both fines of up to $250,000.”

The Denisonian has also reached out to the Granville Police Department, the assigned detective is away from the office until Wednesday, November 20. We plan on following up with the detective and continuing our coverage on the incident as the investigation progresses.