Thief! Parliamentary candidate seen removing rival's flyer from postbox

A candidate running for New York State Assembly was apparently caught on camera snatching his rival's campaign flyer from a potential voter's mailbox.

Footage from the Scotia homeowner's Ring camera showed Joseph Mastroianni taking a political letter from the mailbox, putting it in his pocket and then stuffing his own flyer into the mailbox.

“Bad, bad, bad,” Mastroianni says as a young woman giggles behind him, according to the video recorded on Oct. 17.

Mastroianni, a Republican and Rotterdam City Council member, is challenging six-term Democratic Rep. Angelo Santabarbara in the 111th District, which includes Schenectady and Montgomery counties.

The alleged swipe and accompanying video were first reported by News 6 in Albany.

Unfortunately for Mastroianni, the homeowner receives “Informed Mail Delivery” emails every day in which the postal service provides photos and/or videos of the items placed in the mailbox.

Last Thursday, the homeowner received an email with a photo of Santabarbara's campaign flyer in his mailbox from earlier in the day. A video shows Mastroianni stealing it, his accusers said.

Stealing mail is a federal crime that can result in prison time.

Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman Frank Salamone filed a complaint about the alleged theft with the U.S. Postal Service, the state Board of Elections, the state police, the Schenectady County Sheriff's Office and the Scotia Village Police Department.

“Salamone notified these authorities of video evidence that Joe Mastroianni, current Rotterdam City Council member and candidate for NYS Assembly, stole political mail from a constituent's mailbox. “The voter accessed the shocking video from her Ring Doorbell showing Mr. Mastroianni stealing her mail after realizing she had not received the shipment included in her U.S. Postal Service Informed Delivery,” the Democrat said District chairwoman, also a lawyer, in a press release.

Salamone provided authorities with video of a mail carrier delivering the ballot mail sent by Santabarbara to the homeowner in the village of Scotia, as well as “a crystal clear video of Mr. Mastroianni later removing the letter, folding it and putting it in his pocket.” He laughed and said to his accomplice, “Bad, bad, bad,” apparently admitting his wrongdoing,” the statement said.

Salamone called on Mastroianni to stop his campaign activities and immediately resign from the Rotterdam city council.

“Mr. “Mastroianni clearly cannot continue this campaign because he has committed and appears to have committed at least one federal crime,” Salamone said.

“Stopping the assembly campaign is not enough. He must resign from the Rotterdam City Council,” the statement continued. “We like to say that our elected officials are held to a higher standard, but in this case, Mr. Mastroianni did not even meet the minimum standards set forth in the Eighth Commandment: 'Thou shalt not steal.'

Mastroianni did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.