A janitor at a Canada Post sorting station in Castlegar, B.C., has been charged with 14 counts of mail theft for allegedly opening and stealing Christmas mail.

RCMP Sgt. Laurel Matthew said it's believed the man opened hundreds of letters and packages, and pocketed the enclosed money and gifts.

"I spoke with a fellow the other day and there was a necklace in a manila envelope. Gift cards. Stuff like that."

Matthew said the thefts came to their attention after Canada Post started getting calls from people complaining their gifts weren't arriving.

Police believe the man — from Rossland, B.C., — may have stolen hundreds of items, and want to hear from anyone in the West Kootenay who was expecting gifts by mail that didn't arrive.