GUILDERLAND — A federal postal inspector read Jahquel S. Robertson his rights when Robertson was arrested Feb. 13 by Guilderland Police Officer Slavco Lenic at the New Karner Road post office.

Robertson, 21, of 165 Troy Schenectady Road, Watervliet, was arrested  for petit larceny, a misdemeanor.

A United States postal inspector told police that Robertson obtained a money order for $825 under false pretenses and tried to cash it at a post office, according the police arrest report.

U.S. Postal Inspector Joseph Kelly read Robertson his Miranda rights, the report says.

Robertson could not be reached for comment.

Postal inspectors have been around longer than any other federal law-enforcement agents, beginning in the 18th Century when they regulated post roads, said Raymond Williams, a postal inspector and an adjunct public information officer who works out of the Buffalo office.

In modern times, said Williams, they protect the postal service, its infrastructure, employees, and customers.

They investigate cases including fraud of various kinds — insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, and investment fraud, as well as lottery or fake-check scams. The inspectors investigate identity theft and mail theft as well as prohibited mail including child exploitation, narcotics, and hazardous materials.

They also handle cases involving, for instance, robberies, burglaries, or assaults at postal facilities.

“Sometimes we ourselves are the arresting agent, and sometimes we are assisting other federal, state, or local agencies, who become the officers of record,” Williams said.

They are based out of Postal Inspections Service offices; in this area, there are offices in Albany and Troy.

Postal inspectors are even the subject of a television series based on real U. S. Postal Inspection Service cases. The youth crime drama “The Inspectors” airs Saturday mornings on CBS.

Robertson was arraigned and released on an appearance ticket and was due to appear in Guilderland Town Court on Feb. 13.