Mail Identity Theft – June 2015

Here is a round up of mail-identity theft related news stories from across the United States in June 2015.

June 1:

• ORANGEBURG, South Carolina: WISTV 10 – Orangeburg deputies in search of those responsible for mailbox damage; ““The damage done to each mailbox is serious. Mail cannot be legally left in an unsecured mailbox,” Ravenell said. “Medicine could be delayed, retirement or social security checks could be held up. This is an issue we take seriously.””
• CATHEDRAL CITY, California: CBS Local 2 – Residents in Cathedral City neighborhood dealing with vandalized “cluster” mailbox: Postmaster tells residents they own the mailbox and must pay to replace or repair it; “”Cluster mailboxes” are being left broken and useless, after being targeted by thieves stealing mail.”
• MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin: WISN 12 – Six people arrested, accused of stealing checks from outgoing mail; “Police say the suspects from North Carolina took a homeless man to cash fake checks with stolen account numbers all over the eastern and southern part of Wisconsin.”

• ORANGEBURG, South Carolina: TheTandD.com – Sheriff’s office seeks mailbox beater; “Someone beat 14 mailboxes last week and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office wants to know who it was.”

• TUCSON, Arizona: KVOA – Foothills mail theft turns violent; “Residents of the foothills say finding the doors to their mail boxes open when they come home is a common occurrence. However, when one homeowner came home on May 10 to find thieves trying to steal his mail, he wasn’t about to let two brazen criminals get away with it when he caught them in the act.”

June 2:

• GREENFIELD, Wisconsin: WISN – Band of suspects arrested, accused of stealing mail, forging checks; “A Milwaukee hotel room became a base for identity theft. The suspects were mining stolen mail for bank account numbers, using the information to print fake checks. and paying homeless men to cash them.”
• YONKERS, New York: News 12 Westchester – Yonkers police: Mail stolen from U.S. Postal Service box; “Yonkers police are looking for the person responsible for stealing mail out of a U.S. Postal Service box. The mail was taken from a box located on the corner of Bellevue and Roberts avenues.”

June 3:

• MILL VALLEY, California: Mill Valley Herald – Mill Valley Police Log; “Mail theft: Summit Avenue. A resident reported missing mail including a $200 bicycle jacket at 1:27 p.m.”
  
• TUSCON, Arizona: Tuscon News Now – Authorities report spike in mail thefts; “Mail theft is a big concern in almost every neighborhood in southern Arizona. Leaders of many local neighborhood associations say they’re getting many complaints about the crime from residents.”

June 4:

• CAMPBELL, California: San Jose Mercury News – Police Blotter; “1900 block of south Bascom Avenue, 3:17 p.m. Sunday Police arrested a man, 33, determined to be under the influence and in possession of methamphetamine, a drug pipe, prescription opiates and stolen mail.“
• SACRAMENTO, California: CBS Sacramento – Feds In Sacramento Bust Alleged Fraud And Identity Theft Ring; “Seven Sacramento residents were busted by federal authorities in an alleged massive mail fraud and identity theft scheme. Investigators say there are more than 2,000 local victims. One victim was hit twice.”
• SACRAMENTO, Washington: The Sacramento Bee – Seven Sacramento residents indicted in identity theft scheme: Federal authorities say more than 2,200 victims of alleged conspiracy identified; “In all, the indictment alleges that at least 500 counterfeit and unauthorized access devices were possessed, used, produced or trafficked by members of the conspiracy. More than 2,200 victims have been identified as having their identities or mail compromised as part of the scheme, authorities said.”
• ORLANDO, Florida: ClickOrlando.com – Orlando police searching for mailbox thief; “Orlando police are searching for the culprit who is breaking into mailboxes and stealing mail.”
• WICHITA FALLS, Texas: News Channel 6 Now – Can You ID?: Man Targets Elderly in Mail Theft; “Authorities say the suspect, seen in these surveillance photos, stole checks from mailboxes or rental properties and altered them.”

June 5:

• LONGVIEW, Texas: Longview News-Journal – Mail stolen from two post service drop boxes in Longview; “The Longview Police Department is warning residents that their outgoing mail might have been stolen from two mail-drop boxes last month.”
• VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida: WESH 2 – 20 arrested in mail theft, check fraud ring, deputies say: Ring would cash checks stolen from mailboxes; “Deputies said that for nearly a year the ring members would drive through neighborhoods in seven Central Florida counties looking for mailboxes with their red flags up. Members would then go through the mail, steal any outgoing checks, alter them and cash them, deputies said.”
• JACKSONVILLE, Florida: News4Jax.com – Check fraud ring busted; “Thieves targeted at least 80 victims in Brevard, Orange, Vulusia, Flagler, Seminole, St. Johns and Putnam counties. Deputies say the check fraud ring was a well organized check fraud ring.”
• TUSCON, Arizona: The Washington Times – Postal inspector says mail theft on the rise; “U.S. Postal Service investigators are working to catch mail thieves that have become more prevalent in southern Arizona.”
• DAYTON BEACH, Florida: MyNews13.com – 20 arrested in mail theft, check fraud operation across Central Florida; “A major mail theft and check fraud operation across several Central Florida counties was busted this week, resulting in the arrest of 20 people who are accused of running the expansive ring and stealing more than $35,000.”

June 6:

• SAVAGE, Minnesota: Savage Pacer – Police report from the June 6 edition; “May 27: A man reported that his mailbox was gone through in the 15000 block of Oak Crest Court. He also found other people’s mail in his mailbox. The case is under investigation. May 27: Police received a report that someone found mail that had been stolen from Savage and subsequently dropped it off at the Burnsville Post Office, 13800 Nicollet Blvd., Burnsville. The case is under investigation. May 27: Police received a report of stolen mail in the 13100 block of Independence Avenue. The case is under investigation.

June 7:

• SACRAMENTO, California: Sacramento Sun Times – Feds bust identity theft ring in Sacramento; “Federal Authorities arrested seven Sacramento residents in an alleged massive mail fraud and identity theft scheme.”

June 8:

• ISSAQUAH, Washington: Issaquah Reporter – Issaquah Police Blotter May 29-June 4; “MAIL THEFT: Mail was reported stolen from a location on the 800 block of Front Street South.”
• BANGOR, Maine: Bangor Daily News – NH man gets 4 years for stealing, cashing nearly $90,000 in checks; “A New Hampshire man was sentenced Monday in U.S. District court to four years in federal prison for stealing mail from a temporary employment agency in Augusta, altering checks sent as payment for services and conspiring with others to cash the checks for him.”
• HIGHLAND, California: Highland Community News – Highland police solve ID theft case; “The police report says a search warrant was served on Mesa Street in Muscoy at the residence where both Arroyo and DeMario live. A significant amount of stolen mail was recovered, along with stolen and fraudulent credit cards, passports, iPhones, iPads, computers, and property purchased with the stolen/fraudulent credit cards.”
• SACRAMENTO, California: KCRA.com – Prosecutor: 2,000 NorCal residents could be victims of theft ring; “The identity theft ring allegedly used equipment to put stolen numbers on blank Target REDcards to purchase electronics at Target stores, according to federal prosecutors.”
• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: KOCO 5 – Police: Men used credit card stolen from mailbox to hit the links; “The pair reportedly obtained the stolen credit cards along with other items from the victims directly. In the case of the credit card used to purchase the golf outing, the cardholder’s neighbor told investigators they say saw two men going through the victim’s mailbox.”
• KLAMATH COUNTY, Oregon: Herald & News – Law enforcement Monday; “Christopher Michael Young, 26, Highway 97, 36211 block, methamphetamine possession, 17 counts of mail theft, held in lieu of $110,000 bail bond.”
• SACRAMENTO, California: KCRA.com – ID theft ring preyed on NorCal Target stores: Victims had their mail or identities stolen; “The identity theft ring allegedly procured stolen mail from cluster mailboxes, allowing easy access to victims’ names and banking accounts – adding up to thousands of victims so far – in an ongoing investigation.”
• BIRMINGHAM, Alabama: WRBC 6 – On Your Side: Preventing the theft of postal packages; “Gone are the days when you can have something delivered and expect it to just be there when you get home. Crooks consider the front door or front porch an easy target.”

June 9:

• BANGOR, Maine: New Hampshire Union Leader – Evidence collected from Seabrook motel leads to Maine conviction for theft of $87K; “An Augusta man was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his part in a conspiracy to steal mail that resulted in the theft of $87,000.”
• AUGUSTA, Maine: CentralMaine.com – Augusta mail thief gets four years in prison: Ryan Pomerleau, 32, pleaded guilty in January to stealing business checks from mailboxes, altering them and working with others to cash them at area banks; “An Augusta man who stole business checks from mailboxes, altered them and worked with others to cash them at area banks will spend four years in prison.”
• BANGOR, Maine: Portland Press Herald – Augusta man sentenced to 4 years for mail theft: Ryan Pomerleau,32, will also face three years of supervised release and must pay nearly $88,000 in restitution; “Court records say Pomerleau stole mail, altered checks taken from mail and enlisted others to cash the altered checks at Augusta area banks. Investigators used a search warrant at a Seabrook, New Hampshire, hotel room to seize counterfeit checks, typewriters, tools and other evidence linked to Pomerleau.”

June 10:

• CLAREMONT, California: Claremont-La Verne Patch – Mail Theft Suspect Arrested in Claremont: The woman allegedly took mail from some 13 victims, most from Claremont, some from nearby cities; “Claremont police were called and found the suspect’s vehicle nearby; officers stopped it and checked it, allegedly finding multiple articles of mail inside, De Metz said. Sifting through the mail, investigators determined that 13 victims had mail stolen; nine from Claremont and four from surrounding cities, the sergeant said.”
• AURORA, Colorado: 9News.com – Mail thieves targeting Aurora apartments; “Hundreds of mailboxes were broken into and thousands of pieces of mail were stolen from multiple apartment complexes near East Iliff Avenue and South Peoria Street in Aurora.”
• ORANGE COUNTY, California: Orange County Register – Four from O.C. arrested in Chino Hills on suspicion of mail theft; “San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Ronald Hunter of Huntington Beach, Michael Martinez of Orange, Kole Kelly of Santa Ana, and Kristy Kelly of Fullerton, after finding a large amount of stolen mail from as far away as Newport Beach to Chino Hills, burglary tools and drugs, a sheriff’s department statement said.”
• CLAREMONT, California: San Gabriel Valley Tribune – Pomona woman linked to 13 Claremont mail thefts to appear in court; “A Pomona woman arrested on suspicion of stealing mail from Claremont residents’ mailboxes is scheduled to be in court this morning, police officials said.”
• NEW YORK, New York: FOX6Now.com – Checks in the mail? Maybe not! Certain mailboxes are targets for ID theft; “The unofficial mailbox is where the crime started.“He would steal outgoing checks that residents would send to pay bills,” McKechnie revealed. The suspect didn’t have a hard time getting the checks either. With a simple stick, he removed the mail from the outgoing mailbox and then altered checks.”

• TEMECULA, California: The Press Enterprise – TEMECULA: 3 arrested in recent mail thefts; “Three people have been arrested in connection with recent mail thefts in the Temecula area.”

• TEMECULA, California: KESQ 3 – 3 arrested for stealing mail in Temecula: Suspects booked into Southwest Detention Center for burglary & conspiracy; “A Sun City woman and two men from North Carolina were arrested in Temecula over the weekend after police found stolen US mail in their car.”

June 11:

• ABINGDON, Virginia: Herald Courier – Abingdon man accused of stealing mail, cashing checks; “A Washington County, Virginia, man faces theft and forgery charges following the theft of checks from mail boxes.”
  

• TWIN FALLS, Idaho: MagicValley.com – Man Stole Check from Mailbox, Police Say; “The check for $171.62 was linked to an Idaho Central Credit Union account. The teller contacted the credit union which in turn contacted the woman who owns the account. The woman told police the check was intended for her Verizon bill and believed it had been stolen from her mail box.”

June 12:

• SALINAS, California: The Californian – Sheriff’s Log; “1:22 PM SPD found mail in a stolen vehicle belonging to a resident off of Corral de Tierra. The resident reported his mail had possibly been stolen overnight.”
• BRISTOL, Virginia: Bristol Herald Courier – Bristol Virginia police file charges against man in check theft; “According to Washington County and Bristol authorities, someone had taken checks from mailboxes and cashed them at local banks.”

June 15:

• CALVERT COUNTY, Maryland: Southern Maryland Online – Calvert Co. Sheriff’s Reports; “A victim in the 11400 block of Baumann Court in Dunkirk advised DFC P. Aurich that on June 9 at 9:50 a.m. she observed an unknown male suspect in a blue vehicle taking the mail from her mailbox. She advised that she had three pieces of outgoing mail in the mailbox, two which contained checks.”
• FRIDLEY, Minnesota: Sun Focus – Police reports from Fridley May 28-June 3; “A package was reported stolen out of a mail box May 29 on the 500 block of Matterhorn Drive NE.
• PORTLAND, Oregon: KOIN 6 – Convicted ID thief faces mail theft charges: Donaldson allegedly ‘washed’ the checks, changed the amounts, cashed them; “A woman with prior convictions for forgery and identity theft faces charges related to stealing mail from people throughout Portland. Elvina Ernea Donaldson allegedly stole mail with checks inside and with the help of associates stole more than $30,000.”

June 16:

• EL PASO, Texas: FOX 14 – Northeast residents concerned about mailbox break-ins; “Northeast residents said their community mailboxes have been broken into. Residents on Whitehall Drive near Sean Haggerty say they would prefer to have their mailboxes at their home where they can keep a closer eye on them.”
• MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas: Osawatomie Graphic – Investigators trying to find who damaged group mailbox; “Investigators determined that a pry tool was used to damage the mailbox, and the damage estimate is $1,250, according to the report.”
• WALLINGFORD, Connecticut: MyRecordJournal.com – Wallingford man sentenced for stealing mail, weapons violation; “An investigation found Patrick Tardif, 18, of 15 Cooper Ave., stole mail in December and January from 77 homes on 20 streets in Wallingford, according to police. Tardif was taken into custody in January after a resident reported missing bank checks and fraudulent credit card charges. Another town resident reported $2,450 stolen from their bank account in December, which was also linked to Tardif.”

• WICHITA, Kansas: Times Record News – Woman charged in connection with mail theft; “Wichita Falls Police made an arrest they think is connected to a series of checks being stolen from mailboxes.”

• JOPLIN, Missouri: KOAM 7 – Joplin Woman Charged with Trafficking in Stolen Identities; “The detective located numerous stolen checks, ID’s and other forms of identification in the female’s vehicle on the parking lot along with stolen mail. Brady was found to be in possession of personal information and stolen mail for a total of sixty-six victims from Joplin and surrounding areas along with different locations in Missouri and in Oklahoma.”

• RICHLAND, Mississippi: WAPT 16 – Mailbox vandals strike Richland neighborhood: Someone knocks down mailboxes, takes posts; “Vandals hit several streets overnight in the Triangle Acres neighborhood, knocking down mailboxes and in some cases taking the posts, residents said.”

June 17:

• UKIAH, California: Ukiah Daily Journal – MCSO responds to mail theft in Leggett; “During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office stated, deputies discovered several pieces of stolen mail within the vehicle from at least 11 victims, all from other counties, totaling nearly $22,000 in altered money orders or checks.”
• PORTLAND, Maine: WGME 13 – 13 Investigates: Stolen mail warning; “You probably get mail almost every day. But do you know if your mail is being tampered with or even stolen? Two men committed a crime that could easily happen to you.“
• RICHMOND, Virginia: WFMyNews2.com – Your Mailbox: An Open Invitation For Thieves; “But wait, outgoing mail in an unlocked box is an invitation for thieves. Thirty-four businesses reported compromised bank accounts within a short period of time. Investigators were able to track those reports to a certain area.”
• TEMECULA, California: The Press Enterprise – TEMECULA: Pair arrested with stolen mail; “Numerous crime reports from all over southwest Riverside County over the last several months led to the arrest of two Temecula residents, officials said. During the arrest, investigators found numerous items of stolen property and stolen mail.”

• TUSCON, Arizona: Tuscon News Now – Possible Tuscon mail theft victims get letter from Postal Inspector; “The U.S. Postal Inspector’s office says roughly 150 residences in the neighborhood around Country Club and Speedway got letters saying their mail was found in a place it shouldn’t have been. Tonight, these residents say they’re concerned.”

June 18:

• NORTH COAST, California: Lake County News – REGIONAL: Sacramento Valley pair arrested for mail theft; “Authorities have taken into custody two people who they say were responsible for stealing mail in Mendocino and other Northern California counties.”
• SALINA, Kansas: KSAL.com – Stolen Check Forged; “A check from Kansas State University- Salina to a college student is stolen from a mail box and cashed.”
• OMAHA, Nebraska: KMTV 3 – Mail Thief Caught On Camera; “After police failed to return her report calls, she took matters into her own hands and posted the evidence online hoping to catch the crook. Victim Susan Knight McDermott posted the surveillance footage on her facebook page. In one day, it’s gained roughly 15,000 views.”
• SAN ANTONIO, Texas: KSAT 12 –Family struggles with mailbox thief: Family reports mailbox stolen, swapped out 4 times since May; “Since then, their mailbox has been switched one other time and their mail missing. Thursday morning, the thief left with nothing, but Letz said he worries she’ll be back. “I’m just concerned about identity theft,” he said. “We don’t really get anything valuable in the mail, but I’m concerned that bills could give away private information and I’m just kinda concerned that somebody could be so brazen.”
• FRESNO, California: Department of Justice, Eastern District of California – Tulare County Man Charged with Committing More Mail Theft Crimes While Pending Trial in Mail Theft Case; “A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today alleging that Shannon Lester Sorrells, 36, of Dinuba, committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft while awaiting trial for the original indictment, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.”

June 19:

• ANTIOCH, California: Antioch Herald – Highlights of the 1,775 Antioch Police calls for service June 11 – 18, 2015; “A 36 year old Kim Watson was with the suspect and found in possession of stolen mail and other stolen property. Watson also attempted to dump a small amount of methamphetamine when officers approached him.”

June 20:

• DINUBA, California: The Porterville Record – Dinuba man charged again for mail fraud; “According to court documents, Sorrells obtained U.S. mail containing personal identification and financial information, including checks, of victims without their knowledge. He opened bank accounts in victims’ names and altered the checks and deposited them into the accounts.”
  

June 24:

• WILDOMAR, California: The Desert Sun – Couple connected to string of cross-county thefts; “A look inside the car revealed another stolen license plate and numerous items associated with identity theft, including stolen mail.”

June 25:

• CHANDLER, Texas: The Chandler Statesman – Chandler mailbox reportedly vandalized; “The outside mail dropbox at the Chandler Post Office was recently reported to have been vandalized, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service.”
• SHAKOPEE, Minnesota: ABC 5 – Shakopee Police Warn of Increase in Mail Thefts; “Shakopee police are warning residents about an increase in mail theft reports.”

• AUSTIN, Texas: KXAN – Stolen checks, credit cards found in woman’s vehicle; “A woman who was caught with stolen mail and credit cards is facing a charge of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, according to an arrest warrant.”

June 28:

• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: News9.com – Police: Two U.S. Postal Service Mailboxes Were Pried Open In SE OKC; “Two drive-thru mailboxes were broken into overnight Sunday, Oklahoma City police reported.”

June 29:

• GREENSBORO, North Carolina: WFMY News 2 – How To Tell If Your Mail Is Stolen; “Roland Solano and Jose Antigua were caught in ATM photos depositing checks not written to them. Postal Inspectors began tracking the duo after complaints from customers about not receiving their mail.”
• FRANKLIN, Washington: NBC – Deputy Recognizes A Deputy’s Wife’s Stolen Mail In Driver’s Car; “A Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled a car over and noticed another deputy’s wife’s mail in the car and the suspect tried to drive away.”
• LOS ANGELES, California: ABC 7 – Surveillance video catches Los Angeles burglars stealing mail, ransacking cars; “Surveillance video of the burglary released by police on Monday shows the two suspects prying open the apartment door at about 3 a.m. May 11 in the 100 block of North Wetherly Drive. They go straight for the mailboxes, stuffing all the envelopes into bags.”
• WATERFORD, New York: News 10 ABC – Police: Teen blows up Waterford mailbox with M-80, immediately arrested; “Police say a teen was arrested after throwing an M-80 at a mailbox and blowing it up.”

• WICHITA, Kansas: KAKE – Wichita woman sentenced in mail theft fraud scheme; “A Wichita woman has been sentenced to five years of federal probation for her role in a scheme to steal mail from postal boxes and cash counterfeit checks.”

• FRANKLIN COUNTY, Washington: KVEW – Mail Theft Suspect Injured Following Pursuit; “A woman is injured after Franklin County Sheriff Deputies contacted her and she sped away and crashed after she was questioned for allegedly stealing mail in the area of Road 68 and Kau Trail Road.”

• PASCO, Washington: Tri-City Herald – Driver fleeing deputy thrown from SUV; allegedly stole mail; “A Tri-City woman with a history of stealing mail is again accused of prowling mailboxes. But this time, she nearly killed herself when she was thrown from her SUV while reportedly trying to outrun a Franklin County sheriff’s deputy north of Pasco on Monday morning.”

June 30:

• KITTIAS COUNTY, Washington: The Daily Record – June 30, 2015 blotter: Mail theft, electronics stolen, break in attempt; “A possible mail theft was reported on Klocke Road.”
• SPRINGDALE, Arkansas: Arkansas Online – Four sentenced in Northwest Arkansas check theft case; ““Fraud and theft of mail are serious crimes that involve the personal finances of hard-working individuals and can have long lasting impacts on numerous victims,” Eldridge said in the news release. “We remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who perpetrate fraud and swindle others out of their hard earned money.””
• CORONA DEL MAR, California: Corona del Mar Today – Police Log; “Police also took a report of petty theft of mail or packages on Thursday in the 500 block of Seaward Road. The theft, with a $400 loss, occurred between 2:02 p.m. June 2 and 11 a.m. June 19. “
• SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas: 4029TV – 4 men sentenced after stealing checks from mailboxes; “In July police searched a home in Springdale where they found numerous pieces of opened and unopened mail that was not addressed to any of the occupants or that address, multiple personal checks belonging to persons other than the occupants that had been “washed”, checks.”

• FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas: KFSM – Four Sentenced To Over 10 Years For Stealing Checks From Mailboxes, Bank Fraud; “Four men were sentenced to more than 10 years for bank fraud and stealing checks out of mailboxes, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge.”