ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- An investigation into why mail trucks were always sitting outside a Westmoreland County convenience store resulted in four poker machines and $10,000 being confiscated on Thursday.

Allegheny Township police began investigating C & T Mini Mart on Route 56 several months ago when someone said they saw mail carriers playing the video slots while on duty, according to WTAE Channel 4's news exchange partners at the Tribune-Review.

Two letter carriers were among four people playing the machines, which were located in a back room, when police raided the store. According to police, the mailmen were in uniform at the time.

The coin-operated machines spit out tickets to winning players, which is not illegal.

It only becomes illegal if the player cashes in the ticket for a payout -- and that's what Allegheny Township police said some people were doing at the store.

"The machines, they are clearly marked for amusement only," township police Chief John Fontaine said. "When you start paying people for using them, that's what's illegal about them."

Police said the poker machines were in a back room with admittance by invitation only, and they said two mail carriers' names were on the list.

Neighbors complained about late-arriving mail, police said, so they began to investigate and asked the inspector general for help.

"We were able to develop some intelligence into what was going on," Fontaine said. "We realized they had some gambling devices in the back room that patrons had access to and were in there for hours on end playing them."

The store owner declined to comment to Channel 4 Action News on Friday.

No charges have been filed. Township police said they will consult the district attorney about how to proceed with the case.

Police said the inspector general will handle personnel issues involving the mail carriers who were allegedly playing the machines while on the job.

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