Carrier charged with stealing checks from mail in Elmhurst

A mail carrier has been accused of stealing more than 100 checks from the mail in Elmhurst.

Keevon Dockery, 22, of the 7500 block of South Wolcott Avenue in Chicago, is charged with five counts of identity theft and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to a news release from the DuPage County state's attorney's office. A judge set his bail at $100,000 Wednesday.

Court records indicated the aggravated charge alleges he stole a check from a person age 60 or older. Other victims include DuPage Medical Group and DuPage High School District 88, according to records.

According to the news release, Elmhurst police were called on Oct. 20 for a report of check fraud, involving five checks sent by a business to clients, that had been fraudulently deposited.

While watching Dockery on Monday, authorities said, they saw his mail truck leave its route and park near a wooded area. He then left the truck and walked into the woods, where he left three bins of undelivered mail, they said.

He was arrested after his shift. They say he had 13 checks totaling almost $20,000 for businesses and residents on his route.

They allege he stole a total of 117 checks totaling almost $40,000.

To be freed pretrial, Dockery would have to post $10,000. His next court date is Dec. 7.