Holiday Mail-ID Theft: December 2015

December is always a bad month for mail theft. One of the joys of the holiday season… as thieves are on the prowl for gift cards and easy pickings in mailboxes.

This year was no exception.

Take a look at this map, which summarizes all the mail-identity theft news from December in the US. You can click on the markers to see the story for that location.
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And, as usual, the curated mail-identity theft news links from this month in the nation are below.

Dec. 1:

• EVERETT, Washington: HeraldNet – Everett police arrest man for passing $50,000 in bogus checks; “Jaime Dinkins, 39, was arrested for investigation of forgery, theft and identity theft. He’s accused of passing at least 74 bogus checks worth more than $50,000 in Snohomish County. Dinkins is believed to be part of a stolen mail and counterfeit check cashing ring with multiple agencies investigating him, according to court papers.”
• SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: Good4Utah.com – Postal Service anticipates more volume, thieves not far behind; “”Christmas season brings out the thieves and criminals,” said Jared Bingham, U.S. Postal Inspector. It is a tradition no one wants to share in.  From past experience Police claim thieves can strike in a matter of seconds.”
• FONTANA, California: Inland News Today – Mail theft crew jailed in Fontana; “One group canvassing the Hunter’s Ridge area was sidelined after residents spotted them helping themselves to the contents of community mailboxes late Friday night.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: Bakersfield Now – Man, 19, accused in Bakersfield mail theft; “He has been arrested before for similar crimes and has been a person of interest in previous mail theft investigations, police said.”
• FAIRFIELD, California: The Reporter – Mail theft case lands Fairfield man in jail without bail; “A Fairfield man appeared Tuesday in Solano County Superior Court for arraignment on charges related to his alleged theft of mail during the weekend. Korey Smith, 30, of Fairfield, pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of identity theft. The misdemeanor charges came in response to his arrest early Sunday in Fairfield on suspicion of stealing mail.”
• FRESNO, California: ABC 30 – Safe from Scams: Porch Poaching; “Security camera footage catches a crime as it happens. At 3:05 a postal carrier delivers a package. About 42 minutes later a van drives right up to the door, a man gets out, takes the package and leaves all in a matter of seconds.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: LasVegasNow.com – Locals dealing with holiday mail thefts; “”I came out one evening, and the bottom box was broken, as well as the outgoing mail,” said Krista Crotty, victim of mail theft.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: Kern Golden Empire – Postal inspectors investigating a rash of mail thefts in Bakersfield; “The postal service didn’t have an exact number of thefts, but viewers have called our newsroom to report mailbox break ins in northwest and southwest Bakersfield.

• BAKERSFIELD, California: TurnTo23.com – USPS suggests delivery alternatives to avoid mail theft; ” ‘Tis the season. With the holidays in full swing, it’s the Super Bowl for mail carriers, but also primetime for thieves.”

Dec. 2:

• BAKERSFIELD, California: Bakersfield Now – BPD investigates mail theft, names person of interest; “Police are looking for a person of interest in several mail thefts and financial crimes. Tony Jay Neal, 37, is also wanted on warrants for receiving stolen property, burglary and possession of ammunition by a felon.”
• PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island: TurnTo10.com – U.S. Postal Service offers advice to prevent shipping package theft; “Stealing mail is a federal offense, and package thieves can spend up to five years in jail. But that’s not enough to stop some people.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – BPD arrests suspect for mail theft on Cedarwood St.; “On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at about 10:00 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 2900 Blk. of Cedarwood St. regarding a suspect removing mail from mailboxes and a package from the front porch of a house.”
• STOCKTON, California: The Sacramento Bee – Woman used stolen mail from Sacramento, Sutter counties in identity theft scheme; “A Stockton woman is headed to prison for her role in an identity theft scheme that used mail stolen from post offices in Sacramento and Sutter counties.”
• INDEPENDENCE, Missouri: The Examiner – Police: Protect your mail, lock your car; “Last Saturday, Grain Valley Police arrested a pair of juvenile males for stealing packages from unlocked mail boxes and residential front porches. Chief David Starbuck is using the incident to remind citizens to be on the lookout for such opportunistic thieves and provide some tips on how to deter them.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: The Bakersfield Californian – Man arrested on suspicion of mail theft; “Before officers arrived, the man left in a vehicle, which was found a short distance away, the release said. The driver, 19-year-old Blake Reed, was arrested on suspicion of mail theft, identity theft, possession of forged checks and possession of stolen credit cards.”
• LOS ANGELES, California: NBC Los Angeles – Residents Say Mail Theft Led to ID-Theft Nightmare; “Van Nuys residents are outraged after brazen thieves, caught on surveillance video, appeared to be stealing their mail.”
• BOCA RATON, Florida: Sun-Sentinel – Vet bills helped nab brazen Boca Raton identity thieves, feds say; “Vet bills for Shih Tzus named Romeo and Julieta were among the many clues that helped to nab a South Florida couple accused of pilfering mail and stealing identities from more than 250 victims, investigators said.”
• PRICE, Utah: FOX 13 – US Post Office investigating in Price after mail tampered with, contents stolen; “Potter had been expecting a card in the mail from her in-laws for her birthday in November, but when the card didn’t come, she started to wonder. “Usually, it takes two or three days to get to Salt Lake from Price,” Potter said.”
• BAYONNE, New Jersey: The Jersey Journal – Man nabbed stealing mail, credit card in Bayonne: police; “Police recovered the stolen package and a credit card that had been taken from a separate residence, the report stated.”

• WINCHESTER, Virginia: Your4State.com – Authorities warn of holiday theft: Officials warn about package theft after record high cyber shopping; “If you see a mail theft taking place or if your own mail has been stolen, Doherty says to report it to the U.S. Postal Inspectors by calling 877-876-2455.”

Dec. 3:

• JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado: The Denver Post – Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office warns of mail theft: Mailboxes in the county were hit at the beginning of November; “Even before the holiday season, Jefferson County has seen a rash of mail theft. Multiple mailboxes in Jefferson County were broken into at the beginning of November, said Jacki Kelley, a Jefferson County Sheriff public information officer. In mountain communities, home mailboxes can be an easy target because roads are less-traveled and boxes are grouped together at the end of the road, so some residents do not check them as often.”
• PRICE, Utah: Sun Advocate – Residents suspect mail theft; “It is not definite in the Internet posts where in the delivery process the problems occurred – in mailboxes, before or after delivery, or at the Post Office.”
• SACRAMENTO, California: The Sacramento Bee – Sacramento police seek to identify man suspected of mail theft: Surveillance video shows man taking mail from boxes in Hagginwood area; “About 10 p.m. Sept. 24, a man was shown on surveillance video removing mail from multiple mailboxes on Callecita Street, according to a Police Department news release. About 7:29 p.m. Nov. 14, the same man was recorded on video removing items from the same mailboxes in the area.”
• TUSCON, Arizona: Tuscon News Now – Package thefts on the rise during holiday season; “Last year the Tucson area office, which covers the region between Gila Bend and Douglas, arrested 56 people for mail theft and fraud related crimes. Birch said they had reports of mail theft in several parts of Tucson.”
• ANDERSON, South Carolina: Independent Mail – Mail theft ringleader sentenced to five years; “Tonya Reid, 38, previously admitted to collecting stolen mail from a network of people, most of whom were working to get money for methamphetamine.”
• KERN COUNTY, California: Turnto23.com – BPD, USPS looking for suspected mail thief in Bakersfield and Kern County; “In recent months, there has been an increase in mail and package thefts throughout Bakersfield and Kern County. These thefts often result in additional crimes being committed, which may include forgery, fraud, and identity theft.”
• SACRAMENTO, California: Contra Costa Times – Stockton woman gets 4 years post office burglaries, identity theft; “A Stockton woman has been sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for her role in an identity theft scheme that used mail stolen from post offices in Sacramento and Sutter counties.”
• LAMORINDA, California: Lamorinda Patch – Not Getting Your Mail? Moraga Police Issue Cautionary Warning; “If you find that you are not receiving your mail, immediately contact the Moraga Post Office and ascertain why. If your mail has been stolen or a fraudulent hold placed on your mail, please contact the Moraga Police and the Postal Inspectors immediately.”
• SHAKOPEE, Minnesota: Shakopee Valley News – Man, woman sentenced for mail theft in Shakopee; “A man and woman will both spend time behind bars after pleading guilty to charges related to the theft of mail in Shakopee.”
  

• SACRAMENTO, California: KCRA.com – Sacramento PD search for Arcade-area mail thief: Thief caught on video taking mail from multiple mailboxes; “The thief was recorded on video surveillance taking mail from multiple mailboxes on Sept. 24 and Nov. 14. The video shows the man riding his bicycle up to the mailboxes, stealing the contents and then riding away.”

• BAKERSFIELD, California: KernGoldenEmpire.com – Teen arrested for string of mail thefts, but police think there is more than one suspect; “According to court documents Blake Reed has been arrested for several different crimes, among them, forging checks, prior mail theft, credit card fraud, identity theft of more than ten people, and pulling a knife on his brother’s girlfriend.”

• STOCKTON, California: RecordNet.com – Mail box thefts aggravate residents; “The break-ins of neighborhood mailboxes and theft of mail in north Stockton have grown in recent weeks, based on more than two dozen accounts from victims, a postal employee and vendors.”

• BAKERSFIELD, California: KernGoldenEmpire.com – BPD and USPS name person of interest in mail theft cases; “Bakersfield Police are asking the public’s help in finding a person of interest in the wave of recent mail thefts. In a release, BPD said mail theft often leads to other crimes like forgery, fraud, and identity theft. The release said BPD is working with the United States Postal Inspector and they have identified Tony Jay Neal, 37, as a person of interest in several mail thefts and financial crimes.”

Dec. 4:

• SUISUN, California: KCRA 3 – Fairfield police recover stolen mail from 10 NorCal cities: Two Suisun residents accused of stealing 1,000 pieces of mail; “Fairfield Police Department recovered more than 1,000 pieces of stolen mail from 10 cities across Northern California and arrested two people during a probation search, officers said.”
• TAOS, New Mexico: TaosNews.com – More mailbox burglaries reported in Taos County; “A total of 10 boxes were reportedly damaged or burglarized around Taos County in early October, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Inspector Heriberto Trejo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said thieves typically do not burglarize mailboxes to snatch packages but bank statements and other financial information that can be used to defraud or steal the identities of postal service customers.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: BakersfieldNow.com – Police working on a dozen recent cases of mail theft; “A number of residents say their mail has been stolen recently. One victim is a business owner who says one stolen check was altered. It turns out the name put on the check is the same as the man arrested Wednesday for mail theft.”
• SUISUN CITY, California: San Francisco Chronicle – 2 arrested in Suisun City with 1,000 pieces of stolen mail; “Fairfield police arrested two people, a man and a woman, after a search at a home in Suisun City turned up a host of stolen property, including more than 1,000 pieces of stolen mail, authorities said.”
• HONOLULU, Hawaii: KHON 2 – Protect yourself from holiday mail theft with these important tips; “Officials also said to get a lock for your mailbox at any home improvement store. “Mail thieves in Hawaii typically target mailboxes that don’t have a locking device,” said Schaughnessy.”
• LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: WLKY.com – Package thief arrested again for same crime; “Last year, Carr was seen on surveillance video stealing a package on Lydia Street in the city’s Schnitzelberg neighborhood. In August, he pleaded guilty to that crime along with six other mail thefts.”
• FAIRFIELD, California: Sacramento CBS – 2 Arrested in Fairfield With 1,000 Pieces Of Stolen Mail; “Police arrested a man and a woman after a search at a home north of San Francisco turned up more than 1,000 pieces of stolen mail.”
• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: KOCO – Woman seen taking mail out of mailboxes in northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood; “The video shows the woman going from house to house taking mail from boxes in the 1600 block of Brown Oaks Drive.”
• SUNNYVALE, California: NBC Bay Area – Sunnyvale Package Thief Seen on Surveillance Video Stealing Mail – and Some Oranges; “Authorities in Sunnyvale are looking for the public’s help identifying a suspected package thief caught on surveillance video stealing mail and a couple of oranges from a resident’s front yard.”
• FAIRFIELD, California: KRON 4 – Man and woman arrested after Fairfield police find thousands of pieces of stolen mail from all over Bay Area; “A man and a woman were arrested after a probation search led to the discovery of thousands of pieces of potentially stolen mail on Wednesday, according to Fairfield police.”
• AGOURA HILLS, California: Ventura County Star – 3 arrested in Agoura Hills in connection with identity theft scheme; “After an investigation, three people were arrested in two different hotel rooms, officials said. Detectives found counterfeiting materials, small copiers, stolen mail from the Conejo Valley, postal keys, a stolen 9-mm gun, burglary tools and a “substantial amount” of methamphetamine and heroin, officials said.”
• GREENVILLE, South Carolina: Greenville Online – Woman accused of leading mail theft ring sentenced; “An Upstate woman accused of leading a group that regularly stole mail to obtain money for drugs was sentenced Thursday, federal prosecutors said.”

• LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: WAVE 3 – Police: Man with history of mail theft caught stealing packages off porches; “Police said Carr has a history of mail theft. He is charged with theft of mail matter, two counts of possession of stolen mail, and possession of marijuana.”

• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: OKCFox.com – Police searching for mail thief; “According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, on Nov. 10 a man, in the 1600 block of Brown Oaks Drive, observed a woman going through mailboxes on his street. When confronted the woman told him she was putting advertisements in mailboxes and handed him one.”

• LA PLATA COUNTY, Colorado: The Durango Herald – ‘Tis the season for mailbox theft in La Plata County; “A surge in mail theft occurs every year during the two to three weeks leading up to Christmas, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the Sheriff’s Office. Thieves are interested in checks, cash, gifts and items residents may be sending at this time of year, he said.”

• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: News9.com – OKC Mail Theft Victim Speaks Out About Suspect; “Oklahoma City Police say there’s a Grinch amongst us. The culprit is a woman who’s been literally stealing mail out of mailboxes.”

• FAIRFIELD, California: The Reporter – Fairfield Police recover 1,000 pieces of allegedly stolen mail; “Fairfield detectives uncovered more than 1,000 pieces of allegedly stolen mail during a probation check in Suisun Tuesday evening. The mail appears to be stolen from Fairfield, Suisun, Novato, Tiburon, Davis, West Sacramento, Sacramento, Stockton, Martinez and Napa, police said.”

Dec. 5:

• MEDFORD, Oregon: Mail Tribune – Felony arrests; “Larry Brad Rogers, 53, no known address. Medford police Thursday charged Rogers additional felony charges of mail theft and methamphetamine possession. Medford police originally arrested Rogers Wednesday on a felony charge of mail theft. He remained lodged at the Jackson County Jail Friday on $50,000 bail.”
• FAIRFIELD, California: Daily Republic – Police: 2 caught in mail theft caper after Suisun City home search; “A probation search Wednesday night by the Fairfield Police Department’s Special Operations Team at a Suisun City residence yield more than 1,000 pieces of mail and property not belonging to anyone living at the home, police said.”

Dec. 6:

• FARGO, North Dakota: Inforum.com – Keep the Grinch from snatching Christmas packages with these tips; “The holidays make an especially ripe time for package thieves. Many parcels are gifts, often items of value such as consumer electronics, which make them attractive targets, said Lt. Joel Vettel of the Fargo Police Department.”

• MAPLE LEAF, Washington: Maple Leaf Life – Still more mail theft reports in/around Maple Leaf; “I’m afraid to report that ours and several others locking mailboxes were pried open sometime between 11:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. this (Friday) morning. Ours was left hanging open with our junk mail left soaking wet. We live on Northeast 90th Street and 17th Avenue Northeast.”

• HELENA, Montana: KRTV 3 – Law enforcement investigating mail thefts in East Helena Valley; “Sheriff’s deputies say potentially up to 100 residential mailboxes were rummaged through in the early morning hours on Friday.”

Dec. 7:

• TULSA, Oklahoma: Sand Springs Leader – U.S. Postal Service mail box thefts up in Tulsa, Oklahoma City areas; “She said people breaking into U.S. Postal Service boxes is an ongoing problem. “Right now in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City area, it’s been more common lately,” McClain said.”
• CONTRA COSTA, California: Contra Costa Times – It’s the most wonderful time of year — for scam artists and identity thieves; “”Do you know how people get your personal information?” he said. “Primarily from your mailbox. Does a locking mailbox make a difference? Yes, because the people we hunt have one common characteristic — they’re lazy. They’re not going to spend time opening a locked mailbox if they can go next door to an unlocked one.””
• MIDDLEBURG, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item – More mailbox vandalism reported in western Snyder County; “Three mailboxes in Center Township were reported damaged between 10 p.m. Nov. 25 and 9:30 a.m. Nov. 26.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: ABC 13 – Another valley neighborhood falls victim to mail theft; “Another valley neighborhood has fallen victim to mail theft. An entire box broken into, affecting more than a dozen families. This neighborhood residents are not happy.”
• GREAT FALLS, Montana: KULR 8 – Protect your packages from thieves; “We’re hearing about it more and more—incidents where thieves steal our precious packages right off the front porch steps.”
• TEMPE, Arizona: ABC 15 – Tempe man offers $500 to catch mail thief; “Rob Biggs was expecting several deliveries Monday so he knew to keep an eye on the security camera set up in front of his home.”

• EAST OF HELENA, Montana: KXLH – Mail thefts reported in East Helena Valley; “Tom and Margot Allen run a ranch just off Harmony Road. They normally check their mailbox during the day before it gets dark. But on Thursday, like others living in the Helena Valley, the Allens waited until the following day to pickup their mail. Tom Allen said, “All the doors were wide open and flopped down and I looked at them and there was no mail in any of the boxes.””

• MOUNT VERNON, Wasington: GoSkagit.com – Ask the Chief Deputy: Don’t let thieves steal your holiday; “If you send and receive your mail from an unlocked mailbox, you run the risk of being a victim of mail theft. Identity theft can happen if the thief gets enough of your information from the mail they steal. Consider a locking mailbox for your mail.”

• GULFPORT, Mississippi: Sun Herald – Woman owes $10K in case of mail and identity theft: Bogus checks used at Wal-Mart stores; “Megan Murley, 27, of Marlin, Texas, is one of five people indicted in May on a conspiracy charge involving checks stolen from mail boxes in Harrison County.”

Dec. 8:

• GULFPORT, Mississippi: ABC 11 – Woman Sentenced in Stolen Mail, ID Theft Case; “27-year-old Megan Murley of Marlin, Tex., is one of five people indicted in May on a conspiracy charge involving checks stolen from mail boxes in Harrison County, Miss.”
• SUMMERLIN, Nevada: ABC 13 – Summerlin residents fed up with mailbox theft; “”You need to secure our mail, either you put in a different type of box, secure these boxes better, or give us home delivery, cause this is just totally unacceptable,” said Mann.”
• GULFPORT, Mississippi: Times Union – Woman to repay #10K+ in stolen mail, identity theft case; “The Sun Herald reports 27-year-old Megan Murley of Marlin, Texas, is one of five people indicted in May on a conspiracy charge involving checks stolen from mail boxes in Harrison County, Mississippi.
• JOPLIN, Missouri: The Joplin Globe – Grand jury indicts Joplin couple on mail theft charges; “Two Joplin people were indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges related to the theft of mail from the mailboxes of 36 different victims and the passing of a forged check.”
• LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas: KATV – Personal checks stolen from Little Rock family’s mailbox lead to fraud; “Tim Wadley said he had spotted a gentleman snooping through his family’s mailbox back during the summer, but he said he apparently missed the guy who stole his personal checks delivered a few weeks ago.”
• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: KOAM 7 – Joplin couple indicted for stolen mail, passing a forged check; “Today’s indictments allege that both Hunt and Brady possessed 66 different pieces of stolen mail containing checks, credit cards, Social Security cards and personal identification cards that had been taken from the mail boxes of 36 different individuals between March 1 and June 8, 2015.”
• EAST HELENA VALLEY, Montana: KPAX 8 – Thieves hit Montana town’s mailboxes; ““All the doors were wide open and flopped down and I looked at them and there was no mail in any of the boxes,” Tom Allen said.”

Dec. 9:

• OMAHA, Nebraska: KETV – Deputies arrest three suspected of stealing mail after short pursuit; “A short pursuit involving the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday turned up an SUV with stolen mail. Deputies said they found packages and pieces of mail in the vehicle from Bennington and Elkhorn after the pursuit.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: 3 News – Rip-Off Alert: Unattended packages make easy targets; ““We saw this individual taking other parcels around and being a part of a mail theft ring,” said U.S. Postal Inspector Brian Wood. In a mail theft ring, the suspects will drive around in cars and follow postal carriers. When they know a package is left unattended, they will make their move.”
• OMAHA, Nebraska: Omaha.com – Man and woman arrested in Omaha after packages and mail reported stolen; “A man and two women were taken into custody Wednesday after Douglas County sheriff’s deputies investigated reports of packages and mail being stolen from homes in northwest Omaha.”
  
• CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: WCNC.com – Thieves take aim at mailboxes in south, SE Charlotte; “Old habits die hard for thieves targeting mailboxes. The two zip codes that have been put on notice are 28277 and 28270. According to the US Postal Inspection, the thieves are becoming as brazen as the season is bright.”
• KATY, Texas: 13 WMAZ – Wig stolen from cancer patient’s mailbox; “What the Grinch behind this Christmas crime didn’t realize is what they were stealing from Garza wasn’t an average gift. “I’m sure they were hoping for nice jewelry,” she said. “Boy were they probably surprised with a really nice wig.” Garza is fighting breast cancer, and the package was stolen while she and her husband were at chemotherapy.”
• SANTA CLARITA VALLEY, California: KHTS – Mail Theft During Holiday Season, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Officials Offer Advice; “The holiday season is in full swing and Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials are offering their advice on how to keep mail and packages out of the hands of would-be thieves.”
• WEST VALLEY, Arizona: ABC 15 – Authorities Warn of Mail Thieves in West Valley; “Police say residents making it way too easy: Some people are making it too easy for crooks to steal thieves.”
• SAN FRANCISCO, California: SFWeekly.com – Mission Mail Thief Captured After Neighbor’s Slow-Speed Foot Chase; “Picking up the mail is normal. Picking up someone else’s mail is neighborly. Jimmying open mailboxes with a knife and sauntering down the street with a sack full of other people’s letters like some kind of demented postal Grinch is a federal offense.”

• CENTRAL COAST, California: KSBY 6 – Porch pirates strike the Central Coast; “Thefts are on the rise, locally and nationally with 23,000,000 Americans reporting having packages stolen before they could ever open them.”

• OMAHA, Nebraska:WOWT 6 – Three Arrested After Chase; “According to Douglas County Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Gentile, officers responded to several reports of people stealing mail, including Christmas packages, from porches in the Bennington and Elkhorn areas around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.”

Dec. 10:

• BAKERSFIELD, California: KernGoldenEmpire.com – BPD arrested three suspected mail thieves Monday; “Bakersfield Police arrested three more suspected mail thieves this week, while detectives say they are ramping up efforts to find others. BPD said the thieves continue to target community boxes and believe some may have an Arrow master key which opens the entire box.”
• MAPLE LEAF SEATTLE, Washington: Maple Leaf Life – Neighbor praises new police response to mail theft; “Other recent mail theft reports from Nextdoor Northgate/Maple Leaf: Dec 7th: “All 5 of the mail boxes we share a stand with were open when I left for work this morning. I thought I heard a car door open and close around 10ish p.m. last night. Guess I probably did. Just a friendly reminder to not leave your mail in your box overnight.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: The Bakersfield Californian – Three arrested on suspicion of mail theft; “Three people were arrested Monday on suspicion of weapon violations, financial crimes and mail theft. “
• SUMMERLIN, Nevada: KTNV.com – USPS answers some questions about recent mail theft; “Even though we’ve been hearing left and right from our viewers about lots of mail theft going on across town, USPS says it’s nothing out of the ordinary. But try telling that to the people who are dealing with it.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: Bakersfield Now – 3 arrested, accused of mail and ID theft in Bakersfield; “Three people were arrested this week as stolen mail and evidence of identity theft was found.”
• WEST MONROE, Louisiana: MyArkLaMiss.com – Police Warn of Mail and Package Theft; “”Its really a big deal if you are a victim. You feel violated. Its not a good feeling especially this time of year. I was a victim during the Christmas holiday, so my packages from family members, I never received those, which means they are a victim as well,” says Beck.”
• FRESNO, California: ABC 30 – Safe from Scams: Mailbox Theft; “So, postal inspectors decided to set up a sting operation. “Asked them if they would be willing to participate in having a test gift card placed in their mailbox with a red flag up,” said Andrew Gottfried, US Postal Inspector. Evidence quickly led authorities to Nathan Arnold who was delivering newspapers in the neighborhood.”
• OMAHA, Nebraska: 1011 HD – Omaha Mail Theft Investigation – Three in Custody; “The suspects in the case are identified as Clement Mitchel, 33, Rebecca Earlywine, 29 and Samantha Allen, 29.”
• CONROE, Texas: Click2Houston – Police: Thieves break into nearly 100 mailboxes in Conroe; “The thieves didn’t discriminate — they went after traditional mailboxes and the kind that lock. They were likely looking for prepaid gift cards, checks, even Christmas cards with cash inside.”
• WILLOUGHBY, Ohio: Fox8.com – Willoughby police looking for real-life Grinch: Packages and mail stolen from homes; “A real-life Grinch has been taking packages and mail from homes on Crossbrook Avenue, which is off of Lost Nation Road, since Thanksgiving.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – Three arrests connected to ongoing mail theft in Bakersfield, USPS tries to battle problem; “We’ve been hearing from frustrated and angry viewers all week about dozens of recent break ins to community mail boxes, many of them in the Summerlin community.”

• HELENA, Montana: Missoulian – Rash of mail theft in Helena Valley investigated; “The most wonderful time of the year can also be the busiest for thieves. Authorities say there is generally an uptick in stolen mail this time of year, and this season is no exception.”

• CONROE, Texas: KSAT 12 – Thieves break into nearly 100 locking mailboxes: Conroe police, USPS investigating; “Police are seeking thieves who broke into about 100 residential mailboxes in Conroe. Surveillance cameras outside a home were recording at 4 a.m., when some thieves used a crowbar to break into a mailbox.“

• OMAHA, Nebraska: KETV.com – Three arrested from stealing mail, packages: 62 victims in mail theft investigation; “The three people arrested after a brief pursuit Wednesday are suspected of stealing mail and packages from 62 victims in Northwest Douglas County, according to investigators.”

• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – BPD arrest 3 in connection to recent string of mail thefts; “Bakersfield Police officials have arrested three people in connection to the recent string of mail thefts in the area.”

• OMAHA, Nebraska: WOWT 6 – Mail Theft Investigation – Three in Custody; “Inside the suspect vehicle deputies located stolen checks. Mail was strewn across I-680 near the Mormon Bridge. Investigators say it had been thrown from the suspect vehicle while crossing back into Nebraska.”

Dec. 11:

• HUTCHINSON, Kansas: HutchNews.com – Pair arrested for alleged mail theft in Hutchinson; “Hutchinson police arrested a couple Thursday for allegedly stealing mail from several residences in Hutchinson and using a credit card from one of those thefts to charge up more than $1,000 in charges.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: KernGoldenEmpire.com – Mailbox theft suspect found with numerous sensitive documents, checks, USPS keys; “A police report obtained by KGET 17 News revealed mailbox theft suspect Blake Reed, 19, was found with several miscellaneous papers from the Employment Development Department, W-2 statements as well as tax returns belonging to different people.
• HELENA, Montana: Independent Record – An IR View: Mail theft; “Law enforcement is reporting a recent rash of mail theft in the Helena Valley, which isn’t unusual for this time of year. This time around, groupings of mailboxes in the area are apparently being targeted.”
• PASO ROBLES, California: Paso Robles Daily News – Series of mailbox vandalisms reported in rural Paso Robles; “A series of mailbox vandalisms have been reported in rural areas around Paso Robles, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. There have been four instances of mailbox vandalism and mail theft within the last month.”
• KENT, Washington: Kent Reporter – Mail theft on the rise in Kent this month; “Kent Police want residents to know that thieves are stealing a lot of mail this month from locked, community mailboxes.”

 

Dec. 12:

• ELK RIVER, Minnesota: Star News – Police Report: mail theft, truck fire, DWI suspect; “An Elk River man and a woman from Blaine are accused of stealing more than 200 pieces of mail from nearly 50 different addresses in Coon Rapids.”
• NEWPORT, Kentucky: WLWT 5 – Man arrested for string of NKY package thefts: Police found more than 20 packages that had names, addresses ripped off them; “Newport police are crediting neighbors for helping catch a man wanted for stealing deliveries from front porches.”

Dec. 13:

• NEW HAVEN, Connecticut: The Register Citizen – Greater New Haven authorities urge caution against holiday package thefts; “Instead, it’s up to consumers to get smart and stay vigilant. “I think they’re taking steps but the thing is an ever-present, ever-growing, ever-changing problem,” he said. “You cannot slack off.””
• YOLO COUNTY, California: The Davis Enterprise – Sheriff’s Office investigating rural mail thefts; “Sheriff’s officials said the thieves forced entry into mailbox clusters Wednesday and Thursday evening in rural neighborhoods in the 25000 block of County Road 95 and on Fairway Drive near County Road 29. In both incidents, locked mailboxes were forced open, resulting in extensive damage to the boxes and an unknown amount of mail being stolen.”
• MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin: Fox6Now.com – Porch Poachers: Are your holiday deliveries safe?!; “”We saw this individual taking other parcels around and being a part of a mail theft ring,” explained U.S. Postal Inspector Brian Wood.”

• CHICOPEE, Massachusetts: MassLive.com – Can you identify this man? Chicopee Police are looking for a man who may know about mail theft; “In August, a number of packages were stolen from a local home. United States Postal Service inspectors investigated the case, identified and charged a suspect in the theft, Wilk said.”

Dec. 14:

• COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: The Gazette – Voice of the Consumer: Protect the packages in your mailbox; “Treat your mailbox and the area around your front door as if crooks are targeting them, because they are.”
• GARFIELD COUNTY, Colorado: The Daily Sentinel – Blotter, Dec. 15, 2015; “The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning Monday that mail theft continues to be a problem in the county, particularly in rural areas were mailboxes often are located away from homes. During the holiday season, people often enclose cash or checks as presents, making mail theft even more prevalent, the office says.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Mandatory.com – Las Vegas man sick of getting mail stolen puts dog poop in box and records thief taking it; “”I was kind of excited and I just kept replaying it,” Burdo told a local TV station. “I just kind of wanted to give them back something.” Burdo said he didn’t call police because he didn’t want to tell them that somebody stole a box of poop off his front porch. He hopes the thief learned his lesson and stays away from his house in the future.”
• AUSTIN, Texas: KXAN.com – Thieves targeting mailboxes in northeast Austin; “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating a rash of mailbox thefts in parts of northeast Austin.”
• HONOLULU, Hawaii: Hawaii News Now – Postal service warns you to watch out for ‘porch pirates’; “He said the crime is rampant on the mainland and probably is happening in Hawaii.”
• CONROE, Texas: YourHoustonNews.com – Thieves target Conroe residents’ mailboxes; “But recently, someone has been stealing residents’ mail in the roughly 600-home subdivision by breaking into mailboxes and sometimes even destroying them.“

• PORTLAND, Oregon: KOIN 6 – Holiday cards stolen in Portland: Brookelyn Vanhook pleaded not guilty; “Police say a 33-year-old woman, seen taking at least 7 holiday greeting cards from a mailbox, is now charged with mail theft.”

• OMAHA, Nebraska: WOWT 6 – Protect Yourself Against Mail Thieves; “Here in the metro, video from a Dundee package theft went viral a few months ago after the crime was caught on a surveillance camera. While the thief was arrested, Omaha USPS Postmaster Keith Reid says this is a scene that plays out again and again during the holidays.”

• GULFPORT, Mississippi: Sun Herald – Texas man admits stealing checks from mailboxes in Harrison County; “A Texas man has admitted his role in the theft of checks from mailboxes in Harrison County and using stolen identities on counterfeit checks for purchases at Wal-Mart stores.”

• TUSCON, Arizona: Tuscon News Now – Search for suspects in credit card mail theft; “Members of the U.S. Postal Inspector Tucson office, are looking for three suspects. The three have been targeting mailboxes in the area near Glenn and Swan. At this point the Postal Inspector believes the cases are not related.”

• GULFPORT, Mississippi: Sun Herald – Man admits role in mail, identity theft conspiracy; “A Texas man has admitted his role in the theft of checks from mail boxes in Harrison County and using stolen identities on counterfeit checks for purchases at Wal-Mart stores.”

• TUSCON, Arizona: Tuscon News Now – Tuscon’s Most Wanted: Holidays ripe for mail theft, fraud and property crime; “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of mail-theft suspects who have been active in midtown Tucson.”
• GULFPORT, Mississippi: MS News Now – Texas man pleads guilty in stolen mail, identity theft case; “The indictment says the victims’ financial information was put on counterfeit checks used to buy merchandise at Wal-Mart stores in Biloxi, Pass Christian, and Crowley, Texas. The indictment also states Burney stole mail in 2013 and went to a Wal-Mart with counterfeit checks twice in one day.”
• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Alaska Dispatch News – Mail stolen from boxes in several East Anchorage neighborhoods; “Castro said Tuesday morning that the thefts were from unsecured single-home mailboxes, not locked community boxes. She said that none of the stolen mail was recovered at the scene, and no estimate was immediately available for the number of stolen items or their value.“
• LITTLE FALLS, Minnesota: AM 1240 WJON – Mail Crimes Being Reported in Morrison County; “The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to be alert about their mail this holiday season after several reports of damaged mailboxes and mail which had been tampered with.”
• ENCINITAS, California: San Diego Union Tribune – Seized to-do list: “Steal mail and shoplift’; “Two probationers who were arrested Tuesday in Encinitas in a car that authorities said contained stolen packages had a “to-do list” that said “steal mail and shoplift,” a sheriff’s official said.”
• PHILIPSBURG, Pennsylvania: Centre Daily Times – Police investigate reports of mail tampering; “State police at Philipsburg are investigating multiple incidents in which unknown individuals have allegedly stolen and destroyed mail from Port Matilda residences.”
• ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: KRQE 13 – 2 Albuquerque residents face federal charges for mail thefts; “The feds say they used people’s debit cards and deposited stolen checks that they found in the mail.”

• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: KTUU.com – Rash of mail theft hits East Anchorage neighborhoods; “Police report multiple cases of both outgoing and incoming mail being stolen on Monday, including theft of checks, gift cards and medications. The affected neighborhoods include Old Harbor Avenue, Sherwood Avenue, Kinnikinnick Street, and E 4th Avenue.”

Dec. 16:

• MORAGA, California: La Morinda Weekly – Moraga Police Blotter; “Mail thief caught, 12/1/15 Residents near Ascot Drive and Moraga Road called cops to report a fellow acting suspiciously. Upon contact with the 27-year-old man from Richmond, police found a check allegedly stolen from Orinda in his possession. Further follow-up lead police to a truck parked near Scofield Drive with more stolen mail, along with an accomplice, a 27-year-old from El Sobrante. Both men were arrested.”
• RIVERSIDE, Idaho: Clearwater Tribune – Beware of Riverside mailbox thieves; “The Clearwater Tribune has heard reports as well of people losing Christmas gifts and prescription medication to whomever is pillaging mailboxes.“
• PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania: The Almanac – Peters police investigating post office theft; “Police do not know how much, or the value of the mail taken. But, this theft comes two days after Dec. 14, the busiest mailing day of the year. It is estimated that more than 612 million pieces of mail were posted that day.”
• FERGUSON TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania: WeAreCentralPA.com – Mail theft reported in area neighborhood; “Ferguson Township Police are investigating several reports of mail thefts. They say it’s happening in the Meadows Development, Beaver Branch Road and Marengo Road area.”
• GOLDENDALE, Washington: The Goldendale Sentinel – Mail thieves nabbed by GPD; “Some mail boxes were damaged and mail was scattered in the area. People who receive mail delivered to a street mail box are encouraged to have those boxes locked.”
• AUSTIN, Texas: KXAN – VIDEO: Mail thieves caught on tape in North Austin; “Surveillance video caught a man using a crow bar to pry open a mailbox unit at Limestone Canyon Luxury Apartment Homes in North Austin. The individual sifted through the mail, dumped the junk mail, took off his jacket to wrap up the letters and walked off.”
• WOODLAWN, Illinois: ABC 7 Chicago – Video Shows Package Theft in Broad Daylight in Woodlawn: Three different homes have reported packages stolen in the last couple of weeks – all in broad daylight; “The entire incident was caught on Hunter’s surveillance video, which shows what appears to be a teenager on a bike approaching her fence carrying a large plastic bag. A minute later, the suspect is on her lawn allegedly grabbing the packages, then leaves, presumably by jumping over the neighbor’s fence.”
• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: KTUU.com – Woman catches mail theft suspect red-handed, photographs his van: Police investigate series of mail thefts in East Anchorage; “Chelsea Kolesnikov said the mail thief ran back to his van and drove away with a male passenger. She was able to provide police with a photo of the suspect’s vehicle before it fled the scene.”
• BILLINGS, Montana: Billings Gazette – Christmas capers: Mail theft a common holiday crime; “It turns out the packages were delivered, but Kennedy-Kahler fell victim to a common holiday crime. For some thieves, mail delivery trucks might as well be Santa’s sleigh.”
• OAKHURST, California: Sierra Star – Mail theft on the rise: Sheriff’s Log Dec. 6-Dec. 13; “During the week of Dec. 6 to Dec. 13, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office responded to 11 calls of mail theft throughout the Mountain Area, as multiple mailbox clusters were broken into and parcels were stolen.”
• TULSA, Oklahoma: NewsOn6.com – Oklahoma Mail Thefts Turn Season Of Giving Into Season Of Taking; “She said someone stole a check meant to pay her mortgage from her mailbox, altered it then cashed it a grocery store. “I feel violated. It makes me feel a little bit nervous,” she said.”
• HUTCHINSON, Kansas: HutchNews.com – Don’t let Christmas be stolen: Altered checks show thieves’ slyness is ever-greener; “Local law enforcement has responded to multiple cases involving stolen mail, packages nabbed from porches, stolen lawn decorations – including a Nativity scene – and auto burglaries all during the holiday season.”
• GREAT FALLS, Montana: KRTV.com – Thieves targeting holiday packages left outside of homes in Montana; “The thieves pulled up to the mailbox in an SUV, took the mail, and calmly walked up the driveway to the front door, snatched several packages, then darted across the snow-covered lawn for the getaway.”

• WEST HOLLYWOOD, California: WEHOville – Update: WeHo Apartment Building Break-ins and Mail Thefts Now at 21; “These thefts not only mean your valuable mail is lost. They also mean thieves have access to important information that can help them hack your bank account.”

Dec. 17:

• SURPRISE, Arizona: YourWestValley.com – Some Surprise subdivisions prone to holiday mail theft; “Since Dec. 5 the Surprise Police have received multiple reports of mail theft in the city. Most of the mail theft incidents have occurred in clustered mailboxes located throughout several neighborhoods. The following neighborhoods have all reported some type of mail theft activity; Roseview, Ashton Ranch, Northwest Ranch, Bell West Ranch, and Sarah Ann Ranch.”
• SAN DIEGO, California: UPI.com – California package thief wrote ‘shop lift’ on to-do list; “Police also found mail, including junk mail and bills, belonging to as many as 13 local residents.”
• LAKE STEVENS, Washington: HeraldNet.com – Lake Stevens parents of neglected children in trouble again; “Foley was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of mail theft, a felony. She remained there Wednesday. Officers searched the area of her arrest and found at least 12 mailboxes that apparently had been tampered with along 88th Avenue SE and 19th Street SE. Lake Stevens police are recommending additional charges for attempted mail theft.”
• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: BuffaloReflex.com – Springfield man indicted for stolen mail, credit card fraud; “Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for possessing stolen mail and for credit card fraud.”
• BANDERA COUNTY, Texas: Bandera County Courier – Deputy thwarts alleged mail thief; “”When they searched Ms. Adkins’ vehicle, deputies discovered a large quantity of mail that had apparently been taken from Bandera County, Grey Forest, Boerne, Kendall County and Waring, among other areas,” King said in an interview on Tuesday, Dec. 15. “The thing is some of the mail was addressed to Deputy Tyler and the Tobin family.””
• WEST HOLLYWOOD, California: WEHOVille – Mayor Horvath Presses Federal and Postal Officials for Action on WeHo Mailbox Thefts; “Mayor Lindsey Horvath is reaching out to federal representatives, post office managers and local residents in response to the seemingly unending series of break-ins into WeHo apartment buildings and mailboxes that now appears to be gang-related. WEHOville readers have reported 21 such break-ins to date.”
• MCMURRAY, Pennsylvania: WPXI.com – Cards, gifts stolen from mailbox outside McMurray post office; “According to Peters Township police, someone stole the entire canvas box of mail and either had a key or picked the lock to access it.”
• TURLOCK, California: Turlock Journal – Warning issued for mailbox thefts; “The police department reported they have been receiving more reports of mailbox break-ins, particularly the cluster boxes.”

• KEARNEY, Missouri: KSHB.com – Kearney PD battles holiday mail theft, offers advice; “Kearney Police confirmed at least three cases in recent days where boxes have been opened or outgoing mail has been stolen.”

• CHATHAM COUNTY, Georgia: SavannahNow.com – Three arrested in joint mail theft investigation at Savannah hotel; “Investigators found stolen mail, methamphetamine, several computers and printers used to print blank checks and ID cards in the hotel room at the time of arrest, Lipovsky said. Police also found identities of several hundred people along with their credit card information and stolen credit cards, hundreds of blank checks and burglary tools. “

• TUOLUMNE COUNTY, California: Union Democrat – Authorities: Mail theft up during the holidays; “Targeted items range from bills to packages, Benson said. “They just rummage through — there’s nothing specific it looks like they‘re going for,” she said. “Any kind of personal identifying information, they will try to use.” Unlocked mailboxes are high on the target list because they are easily accessible, Benson said.” 

• PORTLAND, Oregon: KOIN.com – Mail thieves caught: one by cops, two homeowners; Surveillance camera caught thieves in Marion County; “Damon B. Blanchard is charged with one count each of second-degree theft and mail theft. Police arrived and another neighbor said the couple was seen in a nearby car port. That’s where Eva Duke, 40, and Paige Butler, 26, were arrested. They were taken to the Marion County Jail for theft and trespassing.”

Dec. 18:

• JOPLIN, Missouri: Joplin Globe – Joplin couple plead guilty in mail theft case; “A Joplin couple pleaded guilty this week in federal court to stealing mail and passing forged checks.”
• EAU CLAIRE, Wisconsin: Leader Telegram – Police: Women involved in mail, identity theft; “Two women are believed to have stolen about 1,000 pieces of mail from 100 to 130 people, according to Eau Claire police.”
• CHATHAM COUNTY, Georgia: WTOC 11 – Three arrested for mail fraud, drugs; “Three people were arrested after a joint operation including the Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspectors, Savannah-Chatham Metro K-9 and the Chatham County’s Sheriff’s K-9 Unit.”
• BANDERA, Texas: Bandera Bulletin – Suspected mail thief arrested; “Arrested last Friday, Dec. 11, Brandie Adkins was found in possession of other people’s mail, spanning from Bandera, to Grey Forest, to Helotes, to Boerne, to Kendall and Waring Counties.”
• TUSCON, Arizona: Tuscon News New – Mail theft increases with online shopping and holiday season; “A neighborhood near Broadway and Rosemont Boulevards appears to have the latest victims of mail theft.”
• ORANGE COUNTY, California: News3LV.com – VIDEO: Mail theft suspect leads police on chase throughout Orange County; “A suspected mail thief led police on a long high-speed chase throughout Orange County Friday afternoon. The chase was caught on video from a police helicopter.” 
• DOWNEY, California: ABC 7 – 3 Suspects in Custody in Downey After Wild Chase in Southland; “Three suspects were taken into custody after a driver suspected of mail theft led Orange County sheriff’s deputies on a chase throughout the Southland Friday afternoon.”
• TOPEKA, Kansas: Topeka Capital-Journal – Porch pirates: Package theft increases during holiday season: Law enforcement and post office offer tips to prevent theft; “In rural Shawnee County, package theft also picks up during the holiday season, but at less of a rate than in the city, Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer said.”
• SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota: Argus Leader – Package stolen from Sioux Falls porches; “Mail theft is a year-round issue, Clemens said. They have not seen a significant increase of packages or other mail items being stolen during the holidays.”
• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: KY3.com – Couple admits taking mail from mailboxes, cashing forged checks; “Two residents of Joplin pleaded guilty this week in federal court, in separate but related cases, for possessing stolen mail and passing forged checks.”
• ORANGE COUNTY, California: News3LV.com – VIDEO: Mail theft suspect leads police on chase throughout Orange County; “A suspected mail thief led police on a long high-speed chase throughout Orange County Friday afternoon. The chase was caught on video from a police helicopter.”
• GUNTERSVILLE, Alabama: WHNT 19 – Mail stolen from multiple homes Friday afternoon in Guntersville neighborhood, police asking for help; “Guntersville Police say a resident witnessed someone stealing mail from a mailbox in the Spring Creek neighborhood Friday afternoon and the department is asking for help in finding the thief.”
• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: BuffaloReflex.com –  Springfield man pleads guilty to stealing mail, credit card fraud; “Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing stolen mail and to credit card fraud.”
• SANTA ANA, California: CBS Los Angeles – CHP, Sheriff’s Pursue 3 Stolen Mail Suspects Around Orange County; “The chase reportedly started in the Laguna area of Nellie Gail after witnesses allegedly saw the suspects stealing mail.”
• EPPING, New Hampshire: CBS Boston – ‘Priceless’ Pillow Stolen From New Hampshire Woman’s Mailbox; “A New Hampshire woman is asking whoever stole her mail to return the packages with no questions asked as she hopes to retrieve a “priceless” gift made for her mother.”
• RICHLAND COUNTY, South Carolina: WLTX 19 – Deputies: Man Wanted For Stealing Checks from Mailbox; “Richland County Deputies are searching for a man who they believe stole checks from a mailbox back in early September.”

• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: KY3 – Springfield man caught with stolen mail pleads guilty; “Vancil admitted that between Oct. 23, 2013, and April 28, 2015, he stole mail from at least 55 individuals in Greene County and elsewhere. Law enforcement investigators determined the mail included checks, credit cards, and other personal identification cards and information that belonged to other individuals.”

• MOSES LAKE, Washington: iFiberOne.com – Sheriff’s office investigates mail thefts near Moses Lake; “Mail was stolen from several mailboxes in a rural area north of Moses Lake.”

• ORANGE COUNTY, California: OC Register – Three arrested after two-hour car chase from Laguna Hills to Downey; “Orange County Sheriff’s officials arrested three suspected mail thieves Friday after an almost two-hour vehicle pursuit that began in Laguna Hills and spanned multiple cities before ending in Downey.”

• CITRUS HEIGHTS, California: The Sacramento Bee – Video leads to arrest of suspected Citrus Heights package thief; “A Citrus Heights homeowner’s surveillance camera has led to the arrest of a Sacramento woman that Citrus Heights police say is responsible for a rash of package and mail theft.”

• RICHLAND COUNTY, South Carolina: FOX 57 – Man sought for stealing checks out of mailbox; “According to Sheriff Leon Lott, the suspect took two checks out of a mailbox on Chatsworth Road, September 1. The man then altered the name on $265.57 check that was made out to SCE&G. He was seen cashing the checks at the AllSouth Bank on Parklane Road.”

• SAVANNAH, Georgia: WSAV 3 – Three Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Mail from Area Mailboxes, Also Wanted in Other Places; “Local and federal authorities working together in a joint operation have arrested three people for allegedly stealing mail from area mailboxes. They also say  the suspects are also wanted on fraud charges in other jurisdictions.  Officials say when arrested, stolen mail was not only found but computers and printers used to print blank checks and ID cards.”

Dec. 19:

• ARCADIA, California: ABC 7 – Arcadia police use GPS devices to track mail thieves; “Detectives have partnered with citizens and local businesses to place bait packages equipped with tracking devices, which notify police personnel when packages have been stolen.”
• LAGUNA HILLS, California: MyLA.com – Mail-theft suspects arrested after 2-hour OC chase ends in Downey; “Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched about 2:30 p.m. Friday to the 25000 block of Buckboard Lane in the Nellie Gail neighborhood after residents reported seeing two male suspects taking mail from their mailboxes, according to Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.”
• SIERRA MADRE, California: ABC 7 – 90 mailboxes tampered with overnight in Sierra Madre; “”And when I came back to our mailbox, all three of them were open – because we have three homes on this little street – and ours has a lock on it and the lock had been broken,” said Jacquie Pergola, a neighborhood resident.”
• PALM BEACH, Florida: Palm Beach Daily News – Police offer tips to avoid mail, identity theft; “Palm Beach police report an increase of mail theft from mailboxes. Use a locking mailbox when possible.”
• EPPING, New Hampshire: FOX 25 – Stolen irreplaceable present returned after FOX25 story; “She sent the shirt to Texas where a seamstress created a memorial pillow for her mother. The package and all of her other mail was stolen on Dec. 4.”
• DARTMOUTH, Massachusetts: TurnTo10.com – Dartmouth PD trying to find mail thief; “This photo was captured as a man drove up to the mailbox of a Dartmouth residence and took the contents.”

• CORONA, California: Press Enterprise – CORONA: Man caught with stolen mail for second time this month, OC sheriff says; “A Corona man who two weeks ago had been cited and released after an arrest for mail theft was in handcuffs Friday, Dec. 18, after Orange County sheriff’s deputies apprehended him in connection with another such case.”

Dec. 20:

• SIERRA MADRE, California: Sierra Madre News – Mail Thefts Occurred, Watch Your Mailbox; “At 7:00 am (12/19), a Sierra Madre resident living in the 400 block of N. Canon went out for a morning walk and noticed that his mailbox had been tampered with and mail had possibly been stolen.”
• RIVERSIDE, California: Press Enterprise – RIVERSIDE: Facebook post leads to person’s arrest; “A Riverside police officer arrested a person suspected of stealing mail and packages from a Riverside neighborhood after seeing a Facebook post about the theft Sunday, Dec. 20, authorities said.”

Dec. 21:

• WASILLA, Alaska: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman – Seasonal mail theft on the rise; “A string of mail thefts in the Valley has law enforcement as well as postal officials reminding residents to use a little extra care when mailing or retrieving items in standalone mailboxes.”
• ASHLAND, Kentucky: The Independent Online – Mail reportedly stolen from High Street residence; “A resident of the 2200 block of High Street reported mail items as stolen to the Ashland Police Department.”
• GUNTERSVILLE, Alabama: Sand Mountain Reporter – Police search for alleged mail thief; “Investigator Mike Turner of the Guntersville Police Department said a member of the neighborhood witnessed a white male pull up to his mailbox in what looked like a gray Ford Explorer. After the driver of the explorer left, the homeowner went out to his mailbox and noticed two parcels of mail missing, a personal check and a personal letter, along with a pile of mail on the side of the road not belonging to him.”
• JONESBORO, Arkansas: KAIT 8 – Mailbox damaged on Craighead County Road; “The Craighead County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after several mailboxes were damaged in the county Friday night.”
• SURPRISE, Arizona: Tuscon News Now – Surprise Police receive several reports of mail theft; “The Surprise Police Department is warning the public about several reports of mail theft.”
• TISBURY, Massachusetts: MV Times – Police investigate theft from mailboxes along Lambert’s Cove Road; “Sheriff’s Meadow Executive director Adam Moore is concerned about the loss of end of the year donation checks mailed to the non profit.”

Dec. 22:

• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Two-mail theft reports; “We were also forwarded a report of someone breaking into three locked mailboxes along SW Thistle in Upper Fauntleroy.”
• CAMP VERDE, Arizona: Verde Independent – Reward offered for information on Camp Verde mail box vandalism; “Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 18 27 USPS Neighbor Distribution Cluster Box Units throughout Camp Verde and Sedona have been broken into and vandalized.”
• NEW CANAAN, Connecticut: New Canaan Patch – Package and Mailbox Theft Reported in New Canaan; “A piece of mail was stolen while a resident was home and in another case packages were taken.”
• BEDFORD, Michigan: Bedford Now – Mail opened, stuffed in another mailbox; “Deputies interviewed the man to whom the mail was addressed. He did not know that anything was stolen from his mailbox or why the items were delivered to the woman.”
• DYERSBURG, Tennessee: Dyersburg State Gazette – Police arrest juvenile for mailbox tampering; “Members of the Dyersburg Police Department answered a complaint on Friday, Dec. 18 of a male subject going through mailboxes in the area of Hillcrest Avenue.”
• STOCKTON, California: ABC 10 – ‘Hundreds’ of stolen mail recovered in Stockton home, suspects arrested; “Cases of thieves targeting prescriptions, bills and the rest of your mail have been increasing over the past few weeks, according to Stockton police. Officers have arrested two women who police said, targeted dozens of victims from all over the area.”

• STOCKTON, California: KCRA.com – Stolen mail, card skimmers found at 2 Stockton homes; “After several months of investigation, Stockton police found hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, credit card skimmers and items used for identity theft at two houses on Tuesday, officers said.”

• ELON, North Carolina: Greensboro.com – Elon police looking for High Point man in mail thefts, check frauds; “A High Point man is wanted by Elon police on 18 felony charges in connection to recent mail thefts and check frauds.”

• HAMMOND, Indiana: NWI Times – Dozens of pieces of mail dumped in trash in Hammond; “The mail included credit card statements plus various insurance and medical notices. It was addressed to homes along the 7200 block of Van Buren Avenue in Hammond. All but two of the letters were unopened, with one from the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles.”

Dec. 22:

• ORANGE COUNTY, California: NBC Los Angeles – Family Accused of Mail Theft to Make Court Appearance; “On Friday, the Anaheim family allegedly swiped mail from the equestrian community of Nellie Gail Ranch in Laguna Hills before leading authorities on a pursuit, driving in opposite lanes and narrowly missing other drivers in rush hour traffic, before being arrested near a Downey gas station.”
• STOCKTON, California: KCRA 3 – Stockton police shut down mail theft operations; “Stockton police have shut down two operations where thieves were stealing mail and identities.”
• MANTECA, California: Manteca Bulletin – Manteca mail among stolen postal items police recover in Stockton; “Stolen mail, including envelopes from Manteca, were discovered at a Stockton home Tuesday morning by Stockton police after a month-long investigation of a mail theft ring, according to spokesman Officer Joe Silva.”
• FORT MYERS, Florida: News-Press.com – Checks stolen from mail can wipe out bank account; “Sandman Sandblasting however, was still paying some vendors by check and mailing the checks out. One of the vendors – a branch of a major supplier – has a mailbox on the street. And that’s where the check was stolen, counterfeits were made and thieves made off with about $6,000.”
• SPOKANE, Washington: KXLY 4 – Watchful neighbor stops package theft; “Hector Martinet saw the thief in his neighborhood and jumped into action, running out of his house without shoes or a shirt. He successfully apprehended the man and watched him until police arrived to arrest him.”
• ELON, North Carolina: 8 – Suspect in Elon mail thefts, check frauds wanted on 18 felony charges; “Police are asking for the public’s help locating Armond Berry of High Point who is now wanted on 18 felony charges in connection to the recent mail thefts and check frauds in Elon.”

• STOCKTON, California: RecordNet.com – Sisters arrested in mail theft case: Drugs, unregistered weapons also found; “Police took two sisters into custody Tuesday morning after an investigation into mail theft led them to a north Stockton home and the discovery of hundreds of pieces of stolen correspondence, drugs, and a gun, according to the Stockton Police Department.”

Dec. 23:

• NEWPORT, Kentucky: WLWT 5 – Man arrested in Newport mail theft accused of stealing family heirloom: Man captured stealing items Tuesday; “Mail thefts are on the rise in Newport, Kentucky, police said Wednesday.”
• LANCASTER COUNTY, Nebraska: 1011Now.com – Sheriff Warns of Stolen Mail Spree; “The Lancaster County Sheriff is warning people of a mail theft spree. Three different people have reported thefts. All of them happened between the 16th and 17th.”
• ORANGE COUNTY, California: The Orange County Register – Married couple allegedly involved in police pursuit pleads not guilty to mail theft; “The defendants are accused of taking mail out of mailboxes in south Orange County, and possessing the personal information of at least 21 victims.”
• BURN, North Carolina: WFMY 2 – Postal Inspectors Catch Mail Thieves Red Handed; “Inspectors say more is at stake than just cash and gift cards. Thieves are also looking for checks with account numbers, routing numbers, they are looking for any credit card numbers that they can obtain through the mail.”
• CORONA, California: NBCDFW.com – Calif. Mom Uses Stinky Tactic Against Mail Thieves; “”We filled the packages with piles of our dog’s poo and dirty diapers from our toddler.” Next, she seals the boxes, and then, she waits.”
• CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Oregon: OregonLive.com – Police arrest suspect in package-stealing Grinch case; suspected accomplice to turn self in; “Both will face mail-theft charges, a Class C felony. Howard also will be charged with attempting to elude a police officer.”

• RIVERBANK, California: Oakdale Leader – Two Arrested For Identity Theft Charges; “A probation search of Sterling’s Modesto home was conducted as part of the investigation and detectives found one of the phones purchased by Stephens from Nov. 19. When detectives searched Sterling’s car they found several ledgers with handwritten personal identifying information, stolen credit cards, stolen checks, credit card scanners, gift cards and stolen mail from the area.”

Dec. 24:

• CARLSBAD, California: NBC San Diego – Suspects Stole Mail From Veterans: Carlsbad PD; “Two suspects were arrested on suspicion of stealing dozens of pieces of mail from residents in Encinitas, Oceanside and San Marcos, including from veterans.”
• TISBURY, Massachusetts: Vineyard Gazette – Police Investigate Rural Mail Theft; “Tisbury and West Tisbury police are investigating the theft of mail from several mailboxes in the Lambert’s Cove area, including mail stolen from the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation off Lambert’s Cove road on Dec. 19.”
• GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Virginia: WAVY.com – Spike in mail tampering/theft reports in Gloucester County; “On the day before Christmas, deputies are warning neighbors in Gloucester County about an increase in thieves looking for any items of value in mailboxes.”
• RICHMOND, Virginia: Newsplex.com – U.S. Postal Inspectors Tackle Mail Crimes; “Mail offenses shift from identity to parcel theft over the holidays and Romano is offering some tips to avoid package theft.”
• UKIAH, California: The Press Democrat – 4 Ukiah residents arrested in mail theft investigation; “Three Ukiah residents were arrested Thursday on suspicion of mail theft following a holiday crackdown by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.”
• ELECTRA LAKE, Colorado: The Durango Herald – Packages stolen near Electra Lake: Sheriff’s Office: Don’t leave mail unattended; “Two victims, Kitty and Brian Benzar, said even though packages are often left in unlocked boxes, this is the first time they have been hit by mail theft.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Las Vegas 8 – Surveillance video catches mailbox thieves in the act; “A North Las Vegas neighborhood is the latest community to get hit by mail thieves but, this time — it was all caught on surveillance video.”
• UKIAH, California: Daily Journal – Four arrested in Ukiah Valley thefts; “The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday afternoon that deputies earlier in the day had noticed several mail boxes open along the rural areas of Highway 253 and Robinson Creek Road.”

• PUNA, Hawaii: KHON 2 – Hawaii police ask for public’s help identifying mailbox vandals; “Hawaii Island police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two people observed on video surveillance damaging a lock on a mailbox at a post office in the Puna District on Thursday, Dec. 24, at approximately 1:26 a.m.”

• CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: WCNC.com – Thieves pry open mail kiosk at University Condos; “As we inch closer to Christmas, thieves are targeting those last minute presents being sent through the mail. Just this week two separate cases of mail theft happened less than five miles apart.”

• NEWPORT, Kentucky: WCPO 9 – Suspect arrested in Newport mail theft; “Dowell was booked into the Campbell County Jail on Wednesday on a count of theft of mail matter, according to the jail’s website.”

• TURLOCK, California: Turlock Journal – Mail theft suspect caught; “At least one suspect in a rash of mail thefts plaguing Turlock has been taken into custody.”

• STANFORD, Kentucky: CKY News – Postal inspectors investigate mail thefts: Arrest made in Garrard County; “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating a slew of mail thefts in Lincoln County and surrounding areas after a garbage bag filled with opened packages and mail was found tossed near a Cedar Creek Lake boat ramp last week.”

Dec. 25:

• HAMMOND, Indiana: WISH 8 – Post Office investigating mail found in Hammond trash can; “The U.S. Postal Service is investigating how more than two dozen pieces of mail ended up being dumped into a trash can outside a home in northwestern Indiana.”
• BLOOMINGTON, Minnesota: KARE 11 – Package thief caught on camera in Bloomington; “A home security camera in Bloomington caught a mail theft earlier this week. It happened on Dec. 22, near the intersection of 18th Avenue South and E. 84th Street.”
• LOS ANGELES, California: Los Angeles Times – Police arrest drug suspect, find $55,000 in stolen checks; “Officers arresting a man on a drug-related warrant this week recovered some unexpected contraband: dozens of pieces of stolen mail, including more than $55,000 in checks meant for veterans, police said.”
• EDINA, Minnesota: MNSun.com – Edina Police report: Dec. 7-13; “A 15-year-old male was arrested for mail theft after a blanket worth $50 was stolen.”

Dec. 27:

• MADERA, California: The Fresno Bee – Madera couple arrested by Clovis police for mail theft: Couple had access to the mail of over 100 residents; “Police were able to determine that the two suspects had been driving through the area and had broken into 19 community mailboxes, giving them access to the mail of over 100 residents.”
• FRESNO, California: ABC 30 – Clovis mail thieves caught red-handed; “Clovis police say two thieves are in jail Sunday after stealing mail from dozens of people.”

Dec. 28:

• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: TwinCities.com – St. Paul Christmas package delivered, gone 8 minutes later; “One resident had video surveillance and officers recognized the suspect “from numerous prior contacts,” according to a criminal complaint charging Manee Yang, 37, of St. Paul, with three counts of mail theft.”
• CLOVIS, California: YourCentralValley.com – Suspects Arrested for Breaking Into Clovis Mailboxes; “Police found the pair, and discovered they had broken into 19 mailboxes, gaining access to more than 100 residents’ information.”
• SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota: KELOLand.com – Man Accused of Stealing Car May Be Stealing Mail Too; “”Mail boxes were still open. There was a lot of mail that was missing, tracks going up to all these… they estimated there was probably around 51-different mail boxes that somebody had been through,” Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department said.”
• MOSES LAKE, Washington: iFiberOne.com – Two people arrested for stealing mail from 78 mailboxes in Moses Lake; “Police suspect two people allegedly stole nearly 300 pieces of mail from homes in the Moses Lake area.”

• SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota: KSFY – Sioux Falls man accused of stealing mail; “Clemens says the stolen property is in connection to reports of mail getting stolen from 51 mailboxes in southeast Sioux Falls.”

Dec. 29:

• COOS BAY, Oregon: The World – Holiday season sees uptick in mail theft; “Around Coos Bay, police are picking up bags of stolen mail already pilfered through by bandits and discarded on the side of roadways.”
• OLYMPIA, Washington: KIRO 7 – Vigilant neighbors catch, stop mail thief; “Officers found the woman was carrying multiple gift cards, credit cards, checkbooks, checks and mail—none of which had her name on them.”

• OLYMPIA, Washington: KOMO 4 – Police: Determined neighbors stop suspected mail thief; “Four witnesses saw the suspect approach mailboxes in front of their home. The homeowner didn’t recognize the suspect as a neighbor and kept an eye on her as she opened several mailboxes and removed mail from them, police said.”

Dec. 30:

• BEDFORD, Michigan: Bedford Now – Mail Stolen From Lexington Place Home; “The incident took place in the 6700 block of Lexington Place the morning of Dec. 28.”
• MOSES LAKE, Washington: Columbia Basin Herald – 2 arrested in connection with local mail thefts; “The investigation into the mail theft led police to discover several locations where mail which had been stolen during the night had been sorted, opened and discarded. Police reportedly recovered 295 pieces of mail from 78 separate addresses in Moses Lake and rural Moses Lake, said Williams.”
• OAKHURST, California: Sierra Star – Thefts and burglaries: Sheriff’s log Dec. 20-Dec. 27; “Dec. 20: Mail theft was reported at a mail box cluster in the area of Pine Meadow and Road 423. Dec. 22: Mail theft reported in the area of Wells Road and Wells Road W. Dec. 24: Mail theft reported from a community mailbox in the area of Road 426 and Sierra Lakes Drive.Dec. 24: Mail theft reported in the 51000 block of Dorstan Drive.
• MODESTO, California: Modesto Bee – Hundreds in Modesto affected by cluster mailbox break-ins: Thieves hit 19 banks of mailboxes within a few days; “A postal inspector confirmed Tuesday afternoon that 19 mailbox clusters, all served by the Hudson station, had been broken into within the past several days. Most clusters have 12 or 16 individual mailboxes, though some have as few as nine, said Jeff Fitch with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. That means between 200 and 300 households likely were victimized.”