Mounties in the Kootenays say hundreds of greeting cards and parcels have been pilfered just weeks before Christmas, and their suspect is a Canada Post employee.

Sgt. Laurel Matthew said the RCMP began investigating the post sorting station in Castlegar, B.C. after receiving a number of complaints about missing mail.

"The other day, someone told me there was a necklace missing. [It was] mostly gift cards, cash, stuff like that," she said.

Local Canada Post employees are not discussing the thefts, but company spokesman John Caines insists the situation shouldn't shake the public's confidence in the postal system.

"Our system is very secure, clearly, and a lot of mail goes through our system every day – about 40 million pieces," Caines said.

A 36-year-old office janitor was eventually arrested and faces 14 charges of mail theft – but investigators believe there could be dozens more victims in the West Kootenays.

Anyone who was expecting cards or packages that they have not received is asked to contact the RCMP.