DC woman accuses UPS drivers of stealing wallet, $2,000 in cash
WASHINGTON - A D.C. woman is calling out UPS after accusing two of its drivers of stealing her wallet from her driveway during a delivery.
Kelly Adams, the alleged victim, shared her story exclusively with FOX 5, describing an ordeal that has left her shaken and frustrated.
The incident occurred Wednesday in Adams' Northeast D.C. neighborhood, during a heavy rainstorm.
Security footage from her home captured two UPS workers, including a temporary seasonal hire, apparently picking up the wallet Adams had accidentally dropped in her driveway.
"I have a cousin who is a driver. I have a friend who worked in the corporate office, so I know how hard they work," Adams said. "I respect them. I try to be kind to them. And to have this happen... it was unnecessary, truly unnecessary, and just wrong."
Adams explained that she had just returned home from a luncheon when she realized her wallet had fallen out of her pocket. She ran inside briefly to change out of her wet clothes, then returned to search for the wallet.
"I see the UPS drivers. I’m literally looking for the wallet because I would like to tip them, and I can’t find it anywhere," she said.
The next day, Adams reviewed her Ring security footage and discovered the wallet had been picked up by one of the workers.
The video shows the seasonal hire retrieving the wallet and leaving with it.
"I was right there thanking them for what they did, again looking for my wallet, so I could give them a Christmas tip," she said.
On Friday, Adams learned from UPS that the wallet had been dropped off at the Bladensburg Post Office — without an envelope or any identifying information. She retrieved it Friday morning but found that the cash, over $2,000, and several gift cards were missing.
"My money is gone," Adams said. "I think they tried to use a card because it’s chewed up in a weird way. It’s been a pretty interesting couple of days."
In response to the incident, UPS issued a statement, saying, "The temporary seasonal hire has been terminated. This incident does not reflect our values. We have no tolerance for theft. UPS employees are trained to perform their jobs with integrity and professionalism."
Adams says the company’s response is insufficient. She has requested that police press charges against both the driver and the seasonal worker, whom she believes were complicit.
"I’m sorry, you made a bad choice, and now there are consequences for those actions," Adams said. "As a District, we need to start prosecuting people instead of letting them walk around doing bad things. People are tired. People are scared. I’m tired... really tired."
Adams is also hoping to recover the stolen cash, adding another layer to her demand for accountability.