Gettysburg Residents Alerted to Mail Theft Scheme by Former Postal Worker

A Gettysburg man admitted this week to stealing packages intended for students and staff at Gettysburg College, disrupting campus mail service and prompting a federal investigation. The thefts, which began in early 2024, were traced back to Harry Hartman, 54, who pleaded guilty to mail theft in U.S. District Court on June 24.

Complaints about missing packages surfaced in early 2023 when deliveries marked as “out for delivery” or “delivered” failed to reach their recipients at Gettysburg College. Although the issue briefly subsided during the summer, it intensified again in October. College officials eventually reported the problem to the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. In response, federal agents reviewed package tracking data and conducted surveillance at the Gettysburg Post Office.

Hartman was identified on camera removing packages from a mail bin designated for Gettysburg College. During an interview with investigators, Hartman admitted to taking one or two packages at a time since March 2024 and selling the stolen contents on eBay. He later surrendered a large box of stolen items that had not yet been sold, and allowed law enforcement to search his vehicle and home.

The federal investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the Postal Inspection Service. Hartman now faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison, in addition to possible fines and supervised release. A sentencing date has not been announced.

Local residents and Gettysburg College community members should be aware of ongoing efforts to safeguard mail and are encouraged to report any future discrepancies to postal authorities.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania.

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