Hanover police arrested a 28-year-old post office employee who allegedly stole more than $2,500 in cash and gift cards from sealed envelopes.

A Hanover center post office employee was arrested after allegedly stealing more than $2,500 in cash and gift cards from the mail.

Hanover police arrested Amber Lopresti, 28, of 13 Alger Way, Taunton on Wednesday, Oct. 8 following a joint investigation with U.S. Postal Service inspectors. Lopresti reportedly admitted to running the scheme, where she would steal cash and gift cards from envelopes being mailed out of the Hanover center post office, for several months. She had been employed at the Rockland Street post office for two years.

“She was arrested as a result of an investigation that was conducted in which several complaints had been received by customers who had mailed cash and gift cards from the Hanover, Mass. center post office that were not received by the intended recipients,” Police Chief Walter Sweeney said.

Lopresti was charged with larceny of more than $250, receiving stolen property over $250 and larceny in a building.

“These charges are state charges brought about by the Hanover Police Department and that does not preclude the federal government from continuing this investigation and charging her in federal court,” Sweeney said.

The USPS Office of the Inspector General is running a separate investigation into the mail fraud allegations.

Police said they are still determining the extent of Lopresti's scheme and encouraged anyone who mailed cash or gift cards that later went missing out of the post office located at 196 Rockland St. to notify the USPS.

“Anyone that feels they may have been a victim of this scheme – and again these items were all mailed out of the Hanover center post office – should contact the USPS police so that they can continue their investigation,” Sweeney said.

Victims should contact the USPS Office of the Inspector General at 401-229-0250 or emailprossi@uspsoig.gov.

Follow Erin Tiernan on Twitter @ErinTiernan.