Mail-Identity Theft: February 2014

February was a short month, but the mail thieves made the most of just 28 days.

Feb. 1:

• VANCOUVER, Washington: FOX 12 – Man catches suspected mail thief on camera
• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – Woman in west Bakersfield says someone stole community mailbox in the middle of the night

Feb. 2:

• GUERNSEY COUNTY, Ohio: Daily Jeffersonian – Law enforcement officers take reports of several mailboxes struck and damaged
• LOS GATOS, California: KRON 4 – Mail Stolen From More Than 250 South Bay Residents

Feb. 3:

• LOS GATOS, California: San Jose Mercury News – Mail stolen from 250 South Bay addresses; two arrested
• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – Mailbox theft in northwest Bakersfield raises questions, creates red tape, inconvenience
• COVINGTON, Georgia: Newton Citizen – Man reports someone blew up his mailbox
• KAUKANA, Wisconsin: FOX 11 – 33 mailboxes damaged in Kaukauna
• WOODBURY, California: Woodbury Bulletin – Woodbury mail thefts draw warning from police

Feb. 4:

• LOS GATOS, California: San Jose Mercury News – Police Blotter: Two men arrested in Los Gatos suspected on mail theft, drug charges
• BARCLAY, Maryland: The Star Democrat – Mailbox damaged by fireworks
• ARVADA, Colorado: Denver Post – Arvada Crime Blotter: Mailbox thefts on Braun Way
• CANUTILLO, Texas: El Paso Times – El Paso County deputies find homemade bomb in Canutillo mailbox
• RICHMOND, California: Contra Costa Times – Richmond: Two arrested on suspicion of mail, ID theft
• PASCO COUNTY, Florida: The Tampa Tribune – Deputies: Pasco man stole mail, credit cards

• DECATUR, Georgia: Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch – Decatur Police Investigating Overnight Mail Theft: Residents have reported their mail being found strewn on the ground and in bushes.

Feb. 5:

• LA PLATA, Maryland: Southern Maryland Online – Reward Offered in Mail Theft Cases
• MONTE SERENO, California: San Jose Mercury News – Two men arrested by LG-MS police on charges of mail theft, drug possession
• KILGORE, Texas: Kilgore News Herald – Woman jailed for drugs, stealing mail faces $60,000 bonds
• MERRIMACK, New Hampshire: Merrimack Patch – Mailbox Vandalism Reported in Merrimack
• DODGE COUNTY, Nebraska: Fremont Tribune – Mailbox stolen from church
• KILGORE, Texas: KETK – Kilgore woman arrested after officers find drugs, stolen mail in car

Feb. 6:

• NEW PORT RICHEY, Florida: FOX 13 – Deputies: Hundreds of victims in mail theft operation
• PASCO COUNTY, Florida: WTSP 10 – 3,000 pieces of mail stolen by Brian Chipman in Pasco County
• WAUSAU, Wisconsin: ABC 9 – Wausau couple charged in mail theft scheme

• PASCO COUNTY, Florida: WFTS Tampa Bay – Pasco Sheriff: 900 victimized in stolen mail case

Feb. 7:

• BASTROP COUNTY, Texas: Austin-American Statesman – Mailbox theft on the rise
• BROOKSVILLE, Florida: Tampa Bay Times – Authorities caution residents about an increase in mail thefts
• PASCO COUNTY, Florida: WTSP 10 – Pasco County deputies bust couple in massive mail theft
• WAUSAU, Wisconsin: WSAW 7 – Wausau Mail Theft/Fraud Case a Reminder to be Vigilant
• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: KSSTP 5 – Officers Recover Large Amount of Mail Stolen from Homes Around Metro
• TULSA, Oklahoma: ABC 8 – Mail Thief Caught on Camera
• DECATUR, Georgia: Decaturish.com – Arrest – Decatur mail theft suspects in custody
• TULSA, Oklahoma: KJRH 2 – Tulsa man turn to YouTube to try and catch mail thief
• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: Pioneer Press – Two St. Paul men arrested in connection with rash of mail thefts
• PASCO COUNTY, Florida: ABC Action News – Missing rent check tied to widespread mail theft: Pasco sheriff looking for more victims

Feb. 8:

• DECATUR, Georgia: Decatur Patch – Decatur Mail Theft Suspects Arrested: Alert Winnona Park resident assists Decatur police bringing into custody a pair of juveniles suspected of stealing mail in city neighborhoods.
• DECATUR, Georgia: Decatur Metro – Decatur Police Make Arrests in Recent Mail Theft

Feb. 10:

• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: Star Tribune – Two St. Paul men charged with mail theft
• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: Pioneer Press – Prosecutors say residents’ identities stolen with mail

Feb. 11:

• SAN DIEGO, California: San Diego 6 – 2 in custody for mail theft, they stole from over 100 people
• FARGO, North Dakota: West Fargo Pioneer – Insight from the West Fargo PD: Avoiding mail theft
• ROSEVILLE, Minnesota: LillieNews.com – Mail thefts spike during tax season: Two arrests made so far in local crime spree
• WEST SEATTLE, Washington: West Seattle Blog – West Seattle Crime Watch: Mail-theft reader report
• WOODBURY, Minnesota: Woodbury Bulletin – Two men charged in Woodbury mail theft spree
• VILLAGE OF HARRISON, Wisconsin: WLUK TV – Mailboxes destroyed in Calumet County
• LAKE OF THE WOODS, Virginia: Fredericksburg.com – Authorities investigate mailbox break-ins
• LAKEVILLE, Minnesota: ABC 5 – Lakeville Man Charged for Mail Theft and Threatening to Kill Ramsey County Judge
• WASILLA, Alaska: Anchorage Daily News – Wasilla woman sentenced to 9 years for drug trafficking, mail theft
• NEW CARLISLE, Ohio: New Carlisle News – Suspect Arrested In Postal Theft
• RAMONA, California: Ramona Patch – Sheriff’s Department Releases Photo of Checks Recovered After Traffic Stop in Ramona

Feb. 12:

• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman – Drug importer, mail thief nets 9-year sentence
• SAN BERNADINO COUNTY, California: Ramona Sentinel – Sheriff’s reports: Identity theft, grand theft of jewelry valued at $50,000
• INLAND EMPIRE, California: The Press Enterprise – INLAND: Postal Service warns about cluster-box mail thefts
• LARIMER COUNTY, Colorado: The Coloradoan – Man arrested in Larimer County mail thefts

• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: LillieNews.com – Two arrests so far in local mail theft crime spree

Feb. 13:

• FORT COLLINS, Colorado: ABC 7 – Mail thief suspect arrested for using stolen financial info to buy things in Colorado and Wyoming
• LOS ALTOS, California: NBC Bay Area – Los Altos Mail Theft Caught on Surveillance Video
• SAN BERNADINO COUNTY, California: Ramona Sentinel – Arraignment Tuesday for identity theft suspects
• BOISE, Idaho: Idaho Statesman – Boise woman accused of mail theft

Feb. 14:

• MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Maryland: NBC 4 – Rash of Mail Thefts Shake Maryland Residents
• AUSTIN, Texas: KEYE – Alleged Theft Ring Busted In North Austin

Feb. 15:

• MENLO PARK, California: InMenlo – University Heights neighborhood hit by mailbox theft

• MANTECA, California: Manteca Bulletin – Blame meth: Mail theft on upswing; Brazen thefts taking placed in broad daylight in Manteca

Feb. 16:

• ELK GROVE, California: News 10 – Mailbox disappears, others vandalized in Elk Grove.
• ELK GROVE, California: ABC 10 – Elk Grove neighborhoods become the target of mail thieves

Feb. 17:

• DENVER, Colorado: CBS Denver – Bold Thief Targets Mailboxes Of Senior Community
• STOCKTON, California: Stockton Record – ID theft fears add to frustration of mailbox victims
• ST. PAUL, Minnesota: LillieNews.com – Mail bust reveals identity theft scheme
• CLAY COUNTY, Indiana: Brazil Times – Charges filed against man accused of stealing mail, forging checks
• STOCKTON, California: Stockton Record – Soaring mail thefts a headache for victims: Recent crime statistics reflect troubling trend

• BIBB COUNTY, Georgia: The Telegraph – Two people arrested, one sought, accused of stealing and forging checks from mail boxes

Feb. 18:

• GALLATIN COUNTY, Montana: Bozeman Daily Chronicle – Durston Road mailboxes damaged in apparent theft attempt
• BOZEMAN, Montana: NBCMontana.com – Gallatin Co. Sheriff’s Office investigates mailbox damage
• TULSA, Oklahoma: NewsOn6.com – Tulsa Couple Held On 103 Counts Of Fraud-Related Crimes

Feb. 19:

• UKIAH, California: The Press Democrat – Ukiah residents warned about spike in mail theft
• SAN JOSE, California: Los Altos Town Crier – Suspects arrested for local mail theft
• AMERICAN CANYON, California: Napa Valley Register – Motorist arrested with allegedly stolen mail, credit cards
• STOCKTON, California: KCRA.com – Stockton mail theft on the rise: ID theft is a growing problem stemming from the crime

Feb. 20:

• DECATUR, Georgia: Decaturish.com – Yoink! More mail thefts reported in Decatur
• LAKE COUNTY, Florida: WFTV 9 – Four arrested in elaborate mail theft schemes in Lake County

Feb. 21:

• LINCOLN COUNTY, North Carolina: Charlotte Observer – Fraudulent check possibly stolen from mailbox, Lincoln County officials say
• PASADENA, California: ABC 7 – Hollywood man arrested for mail theft after using master key
• MAT-SU, Alaska: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman – Post office says stolen mail was re-delivered
• MINNEOLA, Florida: Orlando Sentinel – Four arrested after deputies find stolen checks, materials to make fake IDs

Feb. 22:

• CENTRAL VALLEY, California: Lodinews.com – Central Valley mail theft a growing problem

Feb. 23:

• PASADENA, California: San Gabriel Valley Tribune – Police: Stolen van, mail, other items recovered in Pasadena
• UKIAH, California: The Daily Journal – In Our Opinion – Throw the book at mail thieves
• MINNEOLA, Florida: The Daily Commercial – Deputies break stolen check ring

Feb. 24:

• MAPLEWOOD, Minnesota: Lillie News – Check fraud in Maplewood leads to multi-city mail theft investigation: Two arrests made; charges likely, police say
• RIO RANCHO, New Mexico: KOAT – Vandals target postal service mailboxes in Rio Rancho

Feb. 25:

• CANYON COUNTY, California: SCV TV – Blotter: Mail Stolen in Canyon Country-E
• CLAY COUNTY, Indiana: The Brazil Times – Update: Court dates are upcoming in fraud, mail theft cases
• SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio: 19 Action News – Postal Service, South Euclid Police launch stolen checks investigation
• ELK RIVER, Minnesota: St. Cloud Times – Sherburne County files charges in credit card case

Feb. 26:

• STOCKTON, California: RecordNet.com – Man arrested in series of mail thefts (UPDATED)
• VERNON COUNTY, Wisconsin: Vernon County Broadcaster – Vernon County seeks information on mailbox vandalism

• SACRAMENTO, California: ABC 10 – Police make arrest in series of Stockton mail thefts

Feb. 27:

• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – Two indicted in separate cases of mail theft in Bakersfield
• PIMA COUNTY, Arizona: Green Valley News – Public Safety Briefs: Package reported stolen from mail
• VALDOSTA, Georgia: FOX 31 – Valdosta police warn residents of postal theft: The Valdosta Police Department would like to remind citizens about the potential for thefts from mailboxes, which may result in checks being stolen and “washed” then used in forgeries.

Feb. 28:

• HESPERIA, California: Victorville Daily Press – Authorities link Victorville couple to burglary, mail theft
• MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio: Cincinnati.com – Thieves targeting mailboxes in Miami Twp.: Paxton Lake is only one of the subdivisions in Miami Township that’s been hit by a recent rash of mailbox thefts. Police say if residents have sensitive mail they should consider taking it to the post office or a different mail box.