Alabama Buc-ee’s shoplifting call leads to postal worker’s arrest for trafficking in stolen identities

A call to police about a shoplifter at Buc-ee’s in Leeds led to an investigation into trafficking in stolen identities.

Amber Michelle Beard, 39, of Calera, faces several criminal charges. She is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $80,500.

Leeds police were dispatched to Buc-ee’s on September 22 to investigate a shoplifter. After determining a robbery had occurred, police said, Beard was taken into custody.

A search of her purse revealed not only merchandise stolen from the store, but also numerous credit cards, debit cards and other documents belonging to other people.

Additionally, agents found U.S. mail not addressed to Beard. Beard told police she was employed by the U.S. Postal Service.

Investigators then searched Beard’s vehicle and found a large amount of mail addressed to various people in the Birmingham area, including credit/debit cards, checks, gift cards and driver’s licenses from the Alabama.

“It was determined that while Beard was acting in her official capacity as an employee of the United States Postal Service, she opened U.S. mail that was not addressed to her, removed items from the postal package, such as checks, debit cards and gift cards, and fraudulently used them,” police said in a news release.

Beard is charged with trafficking in stolen identities, five counts of unlawful possession of a credit/debit card and fourth-degree theft of property.

More charges are pending as more victims are identified.