$3.7m taken in US post robbery

Nearly $4m has been stolen from the US Postal Service depository in Phoenix in what investigators say was an inside job.

Officials would not comment on the amount stolen earlier this month, but Phoenix television station KPNX said $3.7m was missing, citing undisclosed sources.

Some employees at the Postal Service's General Mail Facility said they were questioned by postal inspectors and threatened with dismissal if they gave out information.

"We did have a loss. That's about all we're releasing," Postal Inspector Virgil Moore said.

Assistant US Attorney Michael Johns also would not comment on the amount stolen. "It's not billions of dollars," he said.

Authorities would not comment on a suspect.

Louis Holley, a 28-year postal employee, disappeared at the time of the theft and is being sought by authorities, his brother, Michael, told the Arizona Republic.

Moore would not say whether Holley, 52, was being investigated.