Mail Theft Monday-February

Sunday, February 4:

• Fort Bragg, NC: Daily Journal Local News – Men Arrested with Heroin Stolen Mail; “The men reportedly were in the process of consuming heroin and officers searched the vehicle after learning they were both on probation. Drug paraphernalia, heroin and several stolen checks were located inside the vehicle.”
• Lincoln, NE: Lincoldn Journal Star – Ex-Postal Worker From Lincoln Pleads To Stolen Mail Scam; “Harris worked at the Postal Service and was found to have filled out cards changing people’s mailing addresses in order to get their credit card information.”

Monday, February 5:

• American Canyon, CA: Times-Herald Staff Report – Vallejo man and woman friend arrested stealing mail from community boxes in American Canyon; “The officer noticed the man, later identified as Joel Tice, 30, of Vallejo, reaching into the mailboxes. As the officer approached. Tice was uninjured in the crash and was taken into custody on suspicion of a number of crimes, including violating his Post Release Community Supervision, he was on for a previous methamphetamine for sales charge. He was also arrested on suspicion of being in possession of meth with intent to sell, possession of personal ID information for 10 or more people, failure to yield for police, criminal conspiracy, possession of burglary tools and petty theft of mail. “
• El Paso, TX.: ABC 7 KVIA – Documents: Mail theft ring stole checks from Baptist church; altered and cashed stolen checks; “We have had reports of outgoing mail taken from the areas of Charleston National, Dunes West, and Brickyard,” according to Mount Pleasant Police. If you see any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, authorities ask you call 843-743-7200 with details. This news segment was also featured on El Paso Times.

Tuesday, February 6:

• Mount Pleasant, SC: News 2 – Mail reported stolen from several Mount Pleasant neighborhoods; “Detectives with the El Paso Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit arrested and charged 15 suspects. The alleged scheme began in December 2016 when police observed an increase in cases of stolen mail and documents from residential community mailboxes in Northeast El Paso. Police said the 15 suspects worked together to steal the mail and documents for nearly a year.”
• Sonora, CA: Tori James, MML News Reporter – Residents Warned Rash Of Mailbox Thefts Underway; “Tuolumne County sheriff’s officials say several residents are waking up to find their mailboxes open and mail either gone through or scattered about, a sure sign of attempted mail thievery.According to sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson, incidents have most recently been called in from different areas across Soulsbyville and along Highway 49 north of the Sonora city limits. Some of these activities have been reported by mail carriers, early morning newspaper delivery people as well as residents who, looking down the street, might have seen several mailboxes open, which might point to some drive-by theft attempts.”
• Santa Clara, CA: Fox 2 KTVU – Three Held in South Bay Mail Thefts; “A traffic stop by Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies led to the arrest of three alleged mail thieves. The deputies contacted the three inside and learned that they were on probation for burglary. A search of the SUV uncovered a window punch, several pieces of mail belonging to five Saratoga residents and .2 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said.”
• Mt. Pleasant, UT: ABC NEWS 4 – Mt. Pleasant Mail has been reported stolen in various areas; “Mount Pleasant Police have had reports of outgoing mail being taken from the areas of Charleston National, Dunes West, and Brickyard.”
• Jefferson County, MO: Fox 2 Now St. Lous – 2 Jefferson County women face mail theft and child endangerment charges; “Two Jefferson County women are accused of stealing mail, including nearly $50,000 in checks, as well as drug charges.”

Sunday, February 15:

• Anderson, IN: Ken de la Bastide | The Herald Bulletin – Woman sentenced to prison for mail theft; “An Anderson woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing money orders, cashier’s checks and gift cards from the U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.”
• Rochester, MN: Taylor Nachitgal | Post Bulletin – ‘Porch pirate’ will face more mail-theft charges; “Undercover police have again caught a woman allegedly stealing mail in the Rochester area — two weeks after she was arrested and released for the same crime.Police on Wednesday arrested 41-year-old Angela Mae Clemens after the Property Crimes Unit and the Criminal Interdiction Unit had her under surveillance, watching her steal mail and packages, according to Rochester police Capt. John Sherwin.”
• Bloomfield Township, MI: WXYZ Detroit – Police seeking high-value mail thief in Bloomfield Township area; “A high-value mail thief is on the run after eluding federal agents. Investigators filed court documents against Djuan Barnes, accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Barnes allegedly took blank checks, money orders and credit cards from mailboxes.”

Sunday, February 16:

• Bloomfield Township, MI: CBS Detroit – Feds: Man In Dodge Journey Stealing Checks From Bloomfield Mailboxes; “Authorities are searching for a Detroit man who is apparently stealing mail in Oakland County. A federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court says Djuan Barnes stole checks from mailboxes in Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield, including a $8,000 check he deposited and a $200,000 check reported missing by another resident.”
• Bloomfield Township, MI: CBS Detroit – Feds: Man In Dodge Journey Stealing Checks From Bloomfield Mailboxes; “Authorities are searching for a Detroit man who is apparently stealing mail in Oakland County. A federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court says Djuan Barnes stole checks from mailboxes in Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield, including a $8,000 check he deposited and a $200,000 check reported missing by another resident.”

Sunday, February 16:

• Stamford, CT: Lewisboro Daily Voice – Thieves ‘Fishing’ From Stamford Mail Collection Boxes; “Stamford residents are being warned to think twice before putting utility or other checks in large U.S. post boxes due to a recent rise in thefts. So far, more than $3,000 in dozens of checks have been stolen or “fished” out of the large boxes, said Stamford Police Sgt. Steve Perrotta.”
• Stamford, CT: Lewisboro Daily Voice – Thieves ‘Fishing’ From Stamford Mail Collection Boxes; “Stamford residents are being warned to think twice before putting utility or other checks in large U.S. post boxes due to a recent rise in thefts. So far, more than $3,000 in dozens of checks have been stolen or “fished” out of the large boxes, said Stamford Police Sgt. Steve Perrotta.”