Dec. 24—A Greensburg man is charged with stealing a phone that he was supposed to deliver while working for FedEx.
State police filed theft-related misdemeanor charges against 29-year-old Mohammad Hat Alshamasin following a sting operation they set up after several Greensburg-area residents reported they didn’t receive electronics Alshamasin was expected to deliver.
Police began investigating Alshamasin after a customer discovered an iPhone he’d ordered on Oct. 10 was stolen instead of being delivered to his Greensburg-area home.
Checking with FedEx security personnel, investigators learned Alshamasin was the driver of the delivery truck where the missing phone last was tracked, according to a criminal complaint filed by police.
FedEx staff reported to police other ordered items that had gone missing from Alshamasin’s truck: Apple AirPods that were missing on Dec. 2 and an Apple watch slated for delivery on Dec. 8.
In an undercover operation on Friday, police placed on Alshamasin’s FedEx truck a controlled package containing an iPhone 15 valued at $700 and a charging cord. Keeping him under surveillance, investigators saw him return to the FedEx location in Hunker without delivering the package to a pre-arranged address.
Police said they stopped Alshamasin in the parking lot and found in his backpack a new iPhone and charging cord along with blue powder consistent with theft-detection powder they’d placed in the controlled package.
Alshamasin, who appeared to have the same powder on his hands, admitted to stealing the phone and said he’d intended to sell it, according to the complaint. Police said they found multiple phones in his possession.
A FedEx spokesman indicated Alshamasin is no longer working for the company and said, “The safety and security of our customers’ shipments is a top priority, and we are fully cooperating with authorities in this investigation.”
Trooper Steve Limani advised customers who haven’t received expected FedEx deliveries of electronics to contact the company and state police.
Police had not filed any additional charges against Alshamasin as of midday Tuesday. Online court documents did not list an attorney representing him.
He was arraigned Saturday and was released from custody after posting $10,000 bail on Monday. A Jan. 8 preliminary hearing before District Judge Charles Moore is scheduled.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.