Surveillance Video Shows Woman Stealing Mail, Police Say
Rita Payne Smith
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Authorities with the Columbia Police Department say a woman has been arrested a woman accused of rummaging through various mailboxes at an apartment building and stealing mail that wasn’t addressed to her.
56-year-old Rita Payne Smith was arrested on June 14 and is charged with petit larceny, possession of master keys (Non-Owner of Key Sets) and malicious injury to property.
Smith is accused of stealing the mail earlier this month from multiple mailboxes at 1100 Wheat Street.
According to authorities, Smith was seen on surveillance video allegedly using a master key to unlawfully open the mailbox ‘clusters.’
Smith is accused of stealing several pieces of mail to include, bills, invitations, and other miscellaneous envelopes. Smith allegedly kept some of the mail and threw away the rest in a nearby trash can.
Smith does have legal access to one mailbox in the mail area, police say.
CPD Investigators are working to determine the motive for the crimes.
The United States Postal Service Inspectors are assisting CPD with the case.
Smith is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Follow the writer on Twitter.
