Postal worker arrested for stealing gift cards from mail

A U.S. Postal Service employee and Bloomington resident confessed Monday to stealing gift cards while on her mail route earlier this year, police said. \nPenny M. Duerksen, 30, faces preliminary charges of theft for stealing the cards May 27 this year. The investigation began from a case report June 21, Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters said. A Bloomington resident's family member called asking if the Bloomington resident's son had received a Best Buy gift card sent as a high school graduation gift. After checking with Best Buy, it was determined that the gift card was used in Bloomington on June 18, Qualters said. The Bloomington resident then contacted the BPD. \nWhile investigating the case, Qualters contacted a special agent from the U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General who was working on a similar complaint regarding an outgoing $50 Wal-Mart gift card that never made it to its destination. Both thefts occurred May 27 on Duerksen's route. \nDuerksen made a cash transaction at Sam's Club moments before the missing Wal-Mart gift card was used May 27, Qualeters said. On Sept. 27, Qualters and the U.S. Postal Service special agent entered Duerksen's home with consent to search from Duerksen's boyfriend. A cordless phone was found inside the residence that matched the Best Buy purchase made June 18.\nDuerksen was arrested and interviewed Monday, at which time she confessed to the charges, police said.