Mail-Identity Theft: February 2015

Here is a round-up of mail theft news and mail-related identity theft from across the nation in February 2015.

Feb. 2:

• LIVINGSTON, California: Merced Sun-Star – Livingston man accused of mail theft; “Officers conducted a search of the suspect’s room and discovered nearly 65 pieces of mail belonging to people and addresses. Officers contacted several of the people whose mail was in the room and confirmed at least three had been victims of mail theft.”

• ODESSA, Texas: NewsWest9.com – Mail Stolen From Odessa Neighborhood in Broad Daylight; “Some residents found a letter inside their mailbox from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service that explained their mail might have been compromised. The warning adds the Postal Service has been made aware that an unidentified person was taking mail from their neighborhood.”

• BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Indiana: White River News – Sheriff’s Department investigating mailbox vandalism; “The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a rash of mailbox vandalism cases. Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that approximately 15 mailboxes have been reported vandalized on County Road 100 West, just south of County Road 450 South, over the past few nights.”

Feb. 3:

• BEACHWOOD, Ohio: Cleveland.com – Movie DVDs stolen from man’s mailbox: Beachwood police blotter; “THEFT FROM MAIL, LETCHWORTH ROAD: A man reported Jan. 30 that two DVD movies were stolen from his home’s mailbox during the previous evening. The man was returning the videos to the rental company. The DVD’s were valued at $30 apiece.”
• ELK GROVE, California: CBS Sacramento; Thieves Targeting Mailboxes For W-2s, So They Can Steal Tax Refunds; “Thieves are targeting mailboxes in search of tax documents to help them file fake returns and steal people’s tax refunds. Nearly a dozen cities have been hit in the past few weeks, and if the crooks got their hands on a W-2, they have everything they need to file a tax return in someone else’s name and claim their money. The U.S. Postal Service says Elk Grove has seen the most recent mail thefts.”

Feb. 4:

• MEDFORD, Oregon: OregonLive.com – Southern Oregon identity-theft scheme began with stolen mail, feds say; “Senior U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner on Tuesday sentenced 38-year-old Ryan Juan Pitcher to nearly eight years for stealing mail from postal collection boxes and the mailboxes of businesses and private residences, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. From there, Pitcher stole personal identification and converted it to counterfeit IDs and – using computers, printers, check-making software and paper stock – creating phony checks, the government noted in a news release.”
• MILLE LACS COUNTY, Minnesota: Mille Lacs Messenger – Recovery of stolen mail reported; “In further inspecting the recovered mail, it was discovered that the mail was taken from several different cities including St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Plymouth and many more.”
• BOZEMAN, Montana: NBC Montana – Bozeman authorities urge residents to report mail thefts; “Gallatin County investigators have been tracking a string of mail theft cases — more than two dozen reports since last November — and now they’ve arrested a suspect.”
• LYNNWOOD, Washington: MyNorthwest.com – Stolen SUV overturns on I-5 at Lynnwood in police chase; “A stolen SUV overturned on Interstate 5 at Lynnwood early Wednesday during a police chase and spilled mail that apparently had been stolen.”
• PERRIS, California: CBSLA.com – Thief Ransacks Several Mailboxes In Rural Perris Neighborhood; “A thief broke into several mailboxes in one rural Perris neighborhood, and residents are especially worried because it’s tax season. More than two dozen mailboxes in the area of Lilly Meadows Drive and Rocky Glenn Road had their locks pried open sometime overnight, ripped open and raided, leaving neighbors feeling violated.”
• BOZEMAN, Montana: NBC Montana – Bozeman authorities urge residents to report mail thefts; “Gallatin County investigators have been tracking a string of mail theft cases — more than two dozen reports since last November — and now they’ve arrested a suspect.”
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Officers investigate burglaries, mail thefts | Police blotter for Jan. 28-Feb. 3; “You’ve got no mail: Redmond police took a mail-theft report at 8:52 a.m. in the 16400 block of Northeast 44th Way. Redmond police took a mail-theft report at 2:04 p.m. in the 8100 block of 171st Avenue Northeast. Redmond police took a mail-theft report at 4:19 p.m. in the 16900 block of Northeast 92nd Street.”
• BAINBRIDGE, Ohio: Cleveland.com – Nine Bainbridge residents report thefts from cars, mailbox on same day; “A string of thefts from cars and a mailbox reported the same day in Bainbridge are believed to be related, police said.”
• LIVERMORE, California: Inside Bay Area – Police uncover East Bay mail theft ring; “He said that mail theft in Brentwood has been a sporadic problem, but that incidents had increased recently.’Everybody has personal information that’s contained in their mailboxes,’ O’Grodnick said.’Thieves look for a variety of thing: gifts, money, information, credit card information. Oftentimes we see an increase around the holidays.'”

Feb. 5:

• COUPEVILLE, Washington: Herald Net – Oak Harbor suspect in mail theft jailed; “After getting a warrant to search the car, detectives found credit cards, checks, driver licenses and pieces of stolen property. They also found federal tax information. The sheriff’s office is in the process of contacting 69 theft victims from Marysville to Bellingham.”
• LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas: Beaumont Enterprise – Liberty Co. mail thieves are stealing checks, credit card numbers; “The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office has had more than one hundred reports of such cases within the last three weeks.”
• SANTA ANA, California: ABC 7 – 3 Sought in Mail Theft, Car Burglaries at Santa Ana Luxury Apartment Complex; “Santa Ana police were seeking the public’s help in identifying two men and a woman suspected of breaking into cars and mailboxes at a luxury apartment home three separate times this week.”
• LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas: Click2Houston.com – Thieves stealing mail from Liberty County post offices: Residents complain about stolen credit, debit card information; “Thieves are taking mail from outside Liberty County post offices. Now the Sheriff’s Office says residents are complaining about their bank and credit card information being stolen.”
• LAS VEGAS, Nevada: MyNews3.com – Suspect sought in southwest Las Vegas mailbox break-ins; “Someone in the southwest part of the Las Vegas valley has been stealing mail. The mailboxes were broken into at a residential area near Tropicana and Grand Canyon. Although the suspect made off with the mail, he left behind a trail of blood for investigators to follow.”
• PALO ALTO, California: San Jose Mercury News – Palo Alto: Man arrested on suspicion of pimping, identity theft; “An investigation revealed that Hernandez was engaged in pimping and pandering, police said. And a search of the car and its occupants allegedly turned up drugs, mail stolen from at least 25 South Bay residences and medication that had been taken from a car in San Jose the previous night.”

• BUCKHEAD, Georgia: Buckhead Patch – ICYMI: Observant Buckhead Resident Leads Cops to Mail Theft Suspect: A police report claims that the suspect had 47 pieces of mail which did not belong to him inside a U-Haul van; “On the afternoon of Jan. 6, a woman in the 400 block of Woodward Way noticed the driver of a U-Haul van pull up to her mailbox and take the mail out, an Atlanta police report stated. She called police, and was advised to contact the United States Postal Investigators while Atlanta police units tried to track down the van.”

• PALO ALTO, California: NBCBayArea.com – Pimp Arrested in Palo Alto in Car Filled With Stolen Mail, ID; “They searched the car and the four occupants, finding stolen mail with victims’ personal identification like bank statements, stolen medication and other drugs.”

Feb. 6:

• MARIN CITY, California: Larkspur-Corte Madera Patch – Two Marin City Residents Arrested on Suspicion of Mail Theft: A Sausalito resident saw someone going through mailboxes on the street and called police; “Police found a large amount of mail in the backseat that did not belong to the occupants, Marilyn Gibson, 35, and Jessie Sterrett, 38. Police also found information suggesting the suspects were stealing mail for identity theft and a gun was found in Gibson’s purse, Skoog said.”
• LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas: Click2Houston.com – Mail, identities stolen in Liberty County; “A warning about mail stolen from post offices follows dozens of complaints about identity theft. Samantha Ptashkin reports.”
• BOTHELL, Washington: Bothell Kenmore Reporter – Stolen mail and DUI-borne erratic driving | Bothell Police Blotter; “A reporting person contacted authorities about a suspicious female rummaging through mailboxes. Authorities stopped the female and found her in possession of multiple victims mail, she was arrested and charges are pending.”
• BAKERSFIELD, California: ABC 23 – Mail theft declines rapidly after Lakeside community meeting; “Some of his neighbors said they were being hit everyday, seeing checks and other important mail gone. One couple, the Manns, had over a thousand dollars stolen when a crook forged a check from their stolen mail. Others had their identity stolen.”
• MILLE LACS, Minnesota: Mille Lacs County Times – Stolen mail recovered on highway; “Several hundred pieces of stolen mail were recovered Tuesday, Jan. 20, about a mile south of Grand Casino Mille Lacs. The stolen mail was addressed to people in several communities in Central Minnesota, including St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sartell and Sauk Rapids. Mail intended for mailboxes in Plymouth and many other communities was also recovered, Lindgren said.”
• KANSAS CITY, Missouri: KCTV 5 – Man steals USPS truck, police briefly pursue; “Police are looking for a man who stole a United States Postal Service van Friday morning. Rebecca Atkinson is worried about how this could affect her tax return. “I’m wondering if are going to get all our mail and our W-2s. My daughter got hers, but I haven’t gotten mine yet,” Atkinson said.

• NORFOLK, Virginia: 13 News Now – Postal Service investigates mail tossed into ravine; “Abdullah says he retrieved the bags, which contained hundreds of pieces of mail, including bills, tax information and magazines. Some of the mail was wrapped in rubber bands.”

Feb. 7:

• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: News-Leader – Police: Springfield man stole checks from mailboxes and wrote his name on them; “A Springfield man stole checks from mailboxes, wrote his name on the payee line and tried to cash them at local banks, according to court documents.”

• DeKALB, GEORGIA: Dunwoody Patch – DeKalb Residents Among Victims of Mail Thief: A man who has allegedly stolen boxes of mail in three counties – including DeKalb — faces 50 charges of identification fraud; “A man who has allegedly stolen boxes of mail in three counties – including DeKalb — faces 50 charges of identification fraud after police say they caught him driving a U-Haul truck full of missing letters and packages.”

Feb. 9:

• PALO ALTO, California: MercuryNews.com – Police Blotter: Police arrest unlicensed driver who had drugs, stolen mail and hooker in car; “Police pulled over a Honda Accord traveling at a high rate of speed and determined the 21-year-old San Jose man driving was unlicensed and had drugs and numerous pieces of stolen mail in the car.”
• WICHITA, Kansas: KSN.com – Wichita man sentenced in mail theft fraud scheme; “A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to 15 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to steal mail from postal boxes and cash counterfeit checks.”
• IRRIGON, Oregon: East Oregonian – Public safety log: Monday, Feb. 9, 2015; “The Irrigon postmaster reported at 3:20 p.m. that someone had attempted to break into several mail lock boxes on Pleasant View Road, Irrigon, but was unsure if any mail was stolen. A Morrow County sheriff’s deputy took a report.”
• CONYERS, Georgia: Rockdale Citizen – Covington Woman accused of using stolen credit card to pay probation fees; “The victim contacted the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in December after he realized that two credit cards he thought had been lost in the mail were in fact being used by a woman he had allowed to move into his home about two months earlier.”
• WICHITA, Kansas: KAKE.com – Wichita man sentenced in mail theft fraud scheme; “In some of the cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the defendants would remove the name of the original payee and replace it with another in order to cash checks. In other cases, they manufactured counterfeit checks using account info from the stolen checks.”
• SAGINAW COUNTY, Michigan: WNEM 5 – Residents upset after mailboxes get mowed down by snow plows; “Some Mid-Michigan residents are angry that their mailboxes were mowed down by snow plow crews.”

• JACKSON, Mississippi: WJTV 12 – 2 Jackson Residents Plead Guilty to Identity Theft Conspiracy; “Jackson, Miss – Booker Tarvin, 38, and Bianca Harris, 30, both of Jackson, pled guilty today, before U.S. District Judge David Bramlette III, to conspiracy to steal mail and to commit identity theft.”

Feb. 10:

• LITHOPOLIS, Ohio: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette – Mail theft reported in Lithopolis; “Mail was reported stolen from a mailbox at the Lithopolis post office, 260 W. Columbus St., Lithopolis, police said.”
• FLUVANNA COUNTY, Virginia: NBC 29 – 4 Fluvanna Teens Charged in Series of Mailbox Vandalisms, Shooting at Vehicles; “In total, 111 charges were placed in connection with the vandalism of approximately 30 mailboxes, other vandalism to property, and shooting at vehicles.”
• JACKSON, Mississippi: Action News – 2 plead guilty to charges in federal identity theft case; “Prosecutors say Tarvin obtained stolen identities and used them to file false federal income tax returns. Harris converted the fraudulently obtained refund checks and debit cards into cash.”
• CONVINGTON, Georgia: Newton Citizen – Covington woman accused of stealing mail from more than 100 victims; “A Covington woman has been arrested after police discovered that she had stolen mail from more than 100 victims in Newton and Rockdale counties and cashed numerous stolen checks.”
• WRIGHT COUNTY, Minnesota: North Wright County Today – Wright County Sheriff’s Office Warning of Mail Theft; “An update from Sheriff Joe Hagerty warns of an increase of mail theft in the area as of late. Residents in St. Michael, for example, have been posting on local bulletin boards, created on social media, complaining of missing items from local boxes.”
• GLENDALE, California: Glendale Press-News – Police seek suspect caught on video stealing mail; “Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying a man caught on video stealing mail from locked mailboxes of a Glendale apartment complex last month.”
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Officers investigate shoplifting, mail-theft reports | Police blotter for Feb. 9; “You’ve got no mail: Redmond police took a mail-theft report at 12:36 p.m. in the 17100 block of Northeast 80th Street.”
• WRIGHT COUNTY, Minnesota: KARE 11 – Wright County warns of increased mail theft; “The Wright County Sheriff’s Office reports that they’ve received an increased number of calls reporting suspicious vehicles and mail theft.”
• CAMILLA, Georgia: FOX 31 – Is a mailbox marauder plaguing Mitchell County?; “Investigators in Mitchell County are investigating a string of busted mailboxes from across the county that occurred over the last two weekends.”

• MITCHELL COUNTY, Georgia: WALB 10 – Mitchell Co. authorities want mailbox vandals; “Authorities say more than one person used a baseball bat or another object to smash in and knock over the mailboxes on several scattered streets.”

• INDIO, California: KESQ.com – Indio Police Department shares tips to prevent mail theft: Police have created flyer with phone numbers & tips; “The Indio Police Department is warning the public to be aware of suspicious people who have been stealing from residential mailboxes. The criminal activity has had an effect across the entire Coachella Valley, leading to financial fraud and identity theft, officers said in a release.”

Feb. 11:

• ATLANTA, Georgia: AL.com – 3 from Atlanta charged after being found with mail taken from businesses along Highway 280; “Three people from Atlanta have been charged with identity theft and receiving stolen property after Shelby County sheriff’s deputies noticed stolen mail in their car during a traffic stop early Monday morning.”
• WALLA WALLA, Washington: Union-Bulletin – Accused mail thief hit with new charges; “A local woman already accused of having mail that was stolen from multiple addresses in December and amassing stolen bank account information now faces additional, unrelated theft and drug charges.”
• TOPEKA, Kansas: WIBW.com – Area Law Enforcement Issue Mail Theft Code Red Warning; “Topeka area law enforcement officials have issued a Code Red warning for mail theft.”
• SHELBY COUNTY, Alabama: WIAT.com – Shelby County deputies arrest three on identity theft charges; “Jermarcus Acholes, Nikkia Huff and Daniel Reed are facing state charges of identity theft. Shelby County Sheriff’s officers spotted mail in the back of their vehicle during a traffic stop.”
• WALLA WALLA, Washington: Union-Bulletin – Woman sentenced in auto theft, pursuit case; “Still pending against Gardner, of 53192 Ballou Road, Milton-Freewater, is a charge of mail theft, accusing her of stealing mail from various residents’ mailboxes in Walla Walla County on July 31.”
• WRIGHT COUNTY, Minnesota: ABC 5 – Wright County Sheriff Warns of Increase in Mail Thefts this Tax Season; “The Wright County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that there has been an increase in reports about suspicious vehicles and mail thefts.”

• GLENDALE, California: Los Angeles Daily News – Caught on video: Glendale mail thief sought by police; “A mail thief is captured on surveillance video while taking items from locked mailboxes at an apartment building on North Kenwood Street in Glendale. He used a thin metal tool to pry open several locked apartment mailboxes, then took items from them.”

• LONGMONT, Colorado: Times-Call – Longmont police recover stolen vehicles, arrest three suspects; “Officers searched the Subaru and found numerous pieces of stolen mail inside and a syringe containing what later tested positive as being methamphetamine.”

• SHELBY COUNTY, Alabama: ABC 3340 – Stash of mail recovered during traffic stop; “Shelby County deputies noticed something fishy during a traffic stop along Highway 280 early Monday morning; a large amount of mail, which included checks. The mail is from businesses along Highway 280 near the Jefferson County line.”

• OAK HARBOR, Washington: Whidbey News Times – Oak Harbor man suspected of mail, ID thief arrested, being held on $100,000 bail; “Detectives are busy contacting 69 victims of a prolific mail and identity thief who was caught on North Whidbey two weeks ago, according to the Island County Sheriff’s Office.”

Feb. 12:

• ELK GROVE, California: Elk Grove Citizen – Three suspects arrested for mailbox break-ins: Authorities credit residents for leads; “There have been more than 60 mailbox break-ins in Elk Grove since Jan. 1, postal service officials said. Elk Grove police spokesperson Christopher Trim said the rash of thefts began last November.”
• PORT ORCHARD, Washington: Port Orchard Independent – COURTS | Woman charged with stealing mail; “During the search, Hall was found inside the home and detained briefly and later released. After her release, a briefcase, which contained personal paperwork belonging to Hall, was found inside the residence. The briefcase contained a large number of personal documents, financial statements, stolen debit cards, access devices and stolen mail, according to court documents.“
• ELK GROVE, California: FOX 40 – 3 Arrested in String of Elk Grove Mail Thefts; “U.S. Postal inspectors and Elk Grove Police say they have arrested three suspects involved in a rash of mailbox break-ins that have occurred for the past several months. As many as 60 boxes, many part of cluster mailboxes, were emptied.”

• BIRMINGHAM, Alabama: WIAT.com – Business owners on edge over Highway 280 mail theft; “Business owners on Highway 280 are on edge after the discovery of stolen mail in a suspect vehicle. Investigators are instructing them to keep a close eye on their accounts and report anything suspicious. Deputies and agents are still digging to find out how far this goes. They aren’t releasing how many pieces of mail were found or which businesses were affected.”
• WEST TOPEKA, Kansas: WIBW.com – Mail Theft Caught On Camera In West Topeka; “A Topeka man catches thieves stealing mail from his and other neighbors’ mailboxes about a week and a half ago. The car’s make and model is unclear, as well as the description of the person or persons inside the car.”

Feb. 13:

• ARCADIA, California: Pasadena Star News – Arcadia traffic stop leads to drugs, stolen credit cards, arrests; “A routine traffic stop for running a stop sign in Arcadia early Thursday led to the discovery of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a pipe, baggies, a scale, stolen credit cards and checks, burglary tools, officials said.”
• ELK GROVE, California: KFBK 93.1 – Three People Charged in Elk Grove Mail Thefts; “Three people are in jail, charged with a rash of mail thefts in Elk Grove.”
• PITTSBURG, Kentucky: Lex18.com – Man Arrested In Connection With Pittsburg Mailbox Burglary; “Maggard told investigators that he pried open the mailboxes with a screwdriver. Deputies recovered all items taken in the burglary including health insurance books, a license plate and a Valentine’s gift.”
• HERMISTON, Oregon: Hermiston Herald – Two men charged with burglary; “Law enforcement officials soon arrived at the residence, took Manning into custody and discovered he was in possession of suspected methamphetamine, several pieces of jewelry, other people’s credit cards and mail from addresses in Umatilla, Hermiston and Irrigon, according to the release.”

• ROCKDALE COUNTY, Georgia: WSB 2 – Woman accused of stealing mail in three counties; “A Covington woman is accused of stealing mail from more than 100 people in three counties in recent weeks. Police say 37-year-old Teresa Knight cashed a stolen check at a convenience store. When they searched her car, they say they found a travel bag stuffed with hundreds of pieces of mail.”

• LAUREL COUNTY, Kentucky: WKYT.com – Suspected post office thief arrested in Laurel County; “Investigators say five large mailboxes inside the post office were forced open, and items stolen from them.”

Feb. 14:

• COVINGTON, Georgia: CovNews.com – Woman steals from more than 100 people, 3 counties; “When Detective Hipps , Detective Shirah , and members of the Newton County Crimes Suppression unit made contact with Knight, she was found in possession of a travel bag containing multiple checks and numerous pieces of suspected stolen mail. “We now believe that we have another 117 different victims of mail theft alone,” CPD Capt. Ken Malcom said. “In the mail, we found W2s and payments that appear to have been placed in the mailbox for a mail carrier to pick up.””
• KITTIAS COUNTY, Washington: Daily Record – Trio faces 50 counts of ID theft, check tampering; “Identification and financial information from dozens of individuals and businesses were recovered as part of the investigation. Items recovered in a search of Coonce’s room included passports, checks, debit cards, vehicle and health insurance information, vehicle registrations, drivers licenses, company ID cards, Social Security information and a flight attendant’s security badge, according to sheriff’s office records.”

Feb. 15:

• EPHRATA, Washington: iFiberOne.com – Royal City woman charged with stealing mail in Moses Lake; “The 18 pieces of mail came from six homes on Sixth and Seventh Avenue. The woman with Ortega Cruz reportedly told officers Ortega Cruz stole the mail from two banks of mailboxes.”
• EL DORADO COUNTY, Nevada: Reno Gazette-Journal – Guns, drugs, stolen property found after traffic stop; “Detectives are following up on the suspected stolen mail and bank checks, the sheriff’s office said.”

Feb. 16:

• COON RAPIDS, Minnesota: ABC 5 – Coon Rapids Woman Charged with Forgery, Victim Reported Mail Theft; “Employees say the two suspects tried to pass a check and provided two forms of identification, but the victim’s account was suspended because of fraudulent activity. Officers spoke to the victim, who said her checkbook and other items were recently stolen in the mail.”
• LA QUINTA, California: KESQ.com – Thieves target neighborhood mailboxes; “Bills, credit cards and medical records are all personal information that come in the mail. A quiet La Quinta community woke up Monday morning to find six mailboxes had been vandalized.”

Feb. 17:

• WAITE PARK, Minnesota: ABC 5 – Waite Park Police Want Potential Victims to Come Forward After Stolen Mail Found; “Several hundred pieces of mail were recovered from the man’s car, Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud said. The same man was stopped in 2014 and found with hundreds of pieces of mail.”
• LAKE FOREST, Illinois: Chicago Tribune – Lake Forest mail theft investigation continues as second person reports problems; “As the U.S. Attorney’s office determines whether letters were stolen from Lake Forest mail boxes and whether criminal charges are merited, a second Lake Forest resident is reporting problems with checks she and her husband sent.”
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Officers investigate mail thefts | Police blotter for Feb. 13-16; “You’ve got no mail: Redmond police took two mail-theft reports at 9:29 p.m. in the 9600 block of 178th Place Northeast and at 9:13 p.m. in the 17800 block of 93rd Way.”
• GROVER BEACH, California: KEYT 3 – Grover Beach Pair Arrested For Identity Theft and Child Endangerment; “San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a pair from Grover Beach in connection with a mail theft incident reported on Valentine’s Day in the Nipomo Mesa area of Arroyo Grande.”
• DALLAS, Texas: CBS DFW – Dallas Neighbors Sending Warnings About Mail Thieves; “It’s a lesson some North Texans are learning the hard way. The warning, happening now during tax season, means a lot of folks are and will be watching their mailboxes. Unfortunately, thieves also have their eye on your mail.”
• SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, California: The Tribune – Couple allegedly caught with mail stolen from 117 local residents; “A married couple was arrested on suspicion of a host of charges including identity theft and child endangerment after they were allegedly found with drugs and mail from more than 100 local residents.”

• WAITE PARK, Minnesota: St. Cloud Times – Police arrest man after rash of reported mail thefts; “Bentrud said the large “paper trail” left in cases involving mail theft and financial fraud, and the multiple jurisdictions involved, makes it difficult to aggregate charges against one suspect. It’s difficult to determine how much was stolen when credit cards, checks or other mail is being used in different stores and locations.”

Feb. 18:

• SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, California: CalCoastNews.com – Deputies catch South County mail thieves; “Two alleged identity thieves are in San Luis Obispo County jail after sheriff’s deputies caught them stealing mail and stashing methamphetamine.”
• BOZEMAN, Montana: KBZK 7 – More victims of accused mail thief come forward; “More than 60 alleged victims of a mail thief have now been identified. Katlyn Dedycker of Belgrade was arrested several weeks ago, accused of stealing more than $11,000 worth of gifts and merchandise from mailboxes across Gallatin County. At the time of her arrest, 27 victims were listed in the charging documents.”
• FOLSOM, California: Folsom Telegraph – Officials address postal theft problem: Folsom police provide tips to help protect mail; “Mail theft continues to be a problem for neighborhoods with cluster mailboxes all over the region. After a surge of Folsom cluster mailbox burglary reports in December, other neighborhoods in the city have faced similar issues.”

Feb. 19:

• ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Alaska Dispatch News – Woman charged with cashing $20K in stolen checks as feds investigate mail theft rings; “Denae Sullivan has been charged with 20 counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors say she altered checks stolen from mailboxes and vehicles and then cashed them at banks around Anchorage.”
• HERMISTON, Oregon: East Oregonian – Hermiston mail theft case continues; “The deputy found Wilson was in possession of several pieces of stolen mail, including checks, credit cards and parcels from several people and addresses in Umatilla, Hermiston and Irrigon. None of the mail was in her name, according to the sheriff’s office, and some people reported the items stolen that day. The sheriff’s office also suspects Wilson forged stolen checks at local businesses.”
• PLEASANTON, California: Pleasanton Patch – Pleasanton Mail Theft Suspects Evade Police, Toss Mail During Pursuit: The stolen mail was recovered and the suspects are still at large, according to police; “A car driven by suspects who were allegedly reaching into residential mailboxes fled from officers early this morning, Pleasanton Police officials said. Witnesses reported the suspicious car in the area of Foothill Road around 5:20 a.m., according to a statement released by police.”
• PIEDMONT, California: Contra Costa Times – Piedmont: Drugs, stolen mail found in suspicious car; two arrested; “A police officer checking a suspicious vehicle Wednesday in Piedmont arrested two people after drugs and mail were found inside, and police are searching for a third person who ran from the car, authorities said.”
• PLACER COUNTY, California: Auburn Journal – Brake-light outage leads to three mail-theft arrests in Penryn; “A late-night traffic stop in rural Placer County uncovered a mail-theft crime spree by a trio of Sacramento women, authorities allege. Three women in a car pulled over in Penryn for a brake-light outage were arrested after piles of stolen mail were purportedly discovered inside the vehicle.”
• SAN RAMON, California: San Jose Mercury News – San Ramon: Two arrested in connection with recent home burglaries; “Police have arrested two people for a string of residential burglaries around San Ramon in which the suspects walked off with stolen mail, computers and other personal property.”
• BOZEMAN, Montana: KXLH 9 – Victims of accused mail thief come forward; “More than 60 alleged victims of an alleged mail thief in the Bozeman area have now been identified. Katlyn Dedycker of Belgrade was arrested several weeks ago, accused of stealing more than $11,000 worth of gifts and merchandise from mailboxes across Gallatin County.”

• UMATILLA COUNTY, Oregon: KEPRTV.com – Irrigon woman arrested for mail and identity theft; “During the conversation with Wilson, he found that she was in possession of several pieces of stolen mail, including checks, credit cards and parcel from several different persons and addresses in Umatilla, Hermiston and Irrigon, none of which were in her name, and some that were reported as stolen just that morning.”

Feb. 20:

• TAMPA, Florida: The Tampa Tribune – Fraud scheme involved debit cards, mailbox theft; “The bank sent the replacements to the addresses on file for the real customers. The thieves were waiting when the new cards arrived, and snatched them from mailboxes before the customers even knew they’d been sent.”
• BEAUMONT, California: Record Gazette – Mail theft hits Beaumont neighborhoods; “Residents in Sundance and Three Rings Ranch had their community mail boxes broken into on Feb. 9 and Feb. 12.”
• ELK GROVE, California: Elk Grove Citizen – More details revealed in mailbox theft case: Over 250 victims impacted, investigators report; “Three suspects allegedly stole more than 1,000 pieces of mail and victimized over 250 Elk Grove residents in the past few months. They also reportedly spent a few thousand dollars at local stores by using personal and financial information stolen from their victims.”
• SAN JOSE, California: NBC Bay Area – Federal Inspectors Searching For Suspected Mail Thief in San Jose; “Evergreen residents said they have turned over surveillance video and the license plate of a suspect’s van seen in the footage to inspectors.”
• CHINO, California: Press Enterprise – CHINO: Two accused of possessing stolen city of Chino checks; “A search of a stolen car yielded checks stolen from the city of Chino, stolen mail and a stolen credit card, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Friday, Feb. 20.”

Feb. 23:

• SEATTLE, Washington: KOMO 4 – Mail theft on the rise in one Seattle neighborhood; “The postal inspector says mail thefts are on the rise, especially in Pinehurst. Just last week several neighbors received a notice from the Seattle Police Department that their mail had been found inside a stolen car in another county. The mail was returned to the its owners by police. Neighbor Lisa Lotus says a check and her W2 form was stolen out of her mailbox.”
• REDMOND, Washington: Redmond Reporter – Officers investigate residential burglaries | Police blotter for Feb. 18-22; “You’ve got no mail: Redmond police took a mail-theft report at 4:07 p.m. in the 6700 block of 142nd Court Northeast.”
• TUSCON, Arizona: KVOA.com – Mail thieves target midtown neighborhood; “Mail theft is a problem that never seems to go away. It’s also a serious crime. A recent spike has Tucson residents looking for ways to make sure their mail doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.”

Feb. 24:

• WALLA WALLA, Washington: Union-Bulletin – Woman pleads guilty to mail theft; “Gardner was accused of taking mail from mailboxes in Walla Walla County on July 31.”
• SPRINGFIELD, Missouri: KSPR 30 – Checks stolen from mail box; “KSPR’s Jonathan Harper looks at a safe way for you to pay bills by writing a check.”
• MONTCLAIR, California: Daily Bulletin – Two Montclair women held for stealing car, mail; “Deputies searched the car and found a reported stolen credit card belonging to a Chino resident along with stolen mail and business checks.”
• WYTHE COUNTY, Virginia: WDBJ7 – Protecting yourself from identity theft: Kimberley Danley explains her situation after someone stole her identity; “Her information was stolen by someone trying to get an income tax refund but Danley had no idea. “The next year rolls around and I get another paper in the mail from the IRS and it’s the same thing. Another tax return has been filed in my name,” Danley said.”
• OMAHA, Nebraska: WOWT 6 – Identity Theft Suspect Arrested; “The detective said, ‘He ended up copping to the whole thing. He explained how it happened. I believe your mail was stolen.'”

• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: News9.com – Two Caught With Stolen Mail Belonging To 23 OKC Victims; “The investigation revealed the two had mail belonging to 23 different people in their possession.”

Feb. 26:

• CHEROKEE COUNTY, Oklahoma: Tahlequah Daily Press – Sheriff’s Beat: Woman says suspects drove up and stole from mailbox; “Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies took a report recently when an unknown suspect was caught stealing mail. Orella Cecil told deputies she noticed a truck pull up to her mailbox. Someone opened the box and took some mail. The truck left before Cecil could get a tag number.”
• MENLO PARK, California: San Jose Mercury News – POLICE BEAT: Mail stolen in Menlo Park; “MISSING MAIL: Mail was reported stolen at about 7:02 a.m. Wednesday on the 1900 block of Euclid Avenue in Menlo Park.”
• PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida: WPTV 5 – Debit cards stolen from Port St. Lucie couple’s mailbox; “As soon as the mail carrier finished delivering the mail, surveillance video shows a dark-colored four-door Chevrolet pull up to the mailbox. The passenger of the car reached in and stole the victims’ mail.”

Feb. 27:

• SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: FOX Salt Lake City – Man says tax return stolen from mailbox; “A woman was caught on camera allegedly taking a tax return from the mailbox at a Rose Park home last week. “She walked up here, pretended to knock, looked over her shoulder grabbed the letter and walked away,” said Travis McKee, the homeowner.”
• LA PLATA COUNTY, Colorado: The Durango Herald – Mail thieves arrested: This form of theft ‘a problem that’s here to stay’; “‘Mail theft is a continuing problem in the Four Corners,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dan Bender. “The thefts are being committed by many individuals looking for money, credit and gift cards, checks and anything with potential value. The problem is not just one area but is region-wide.'”
• COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: FOX 21 News – Man accused of identity theft after deputies find fake license plates, identification; “After arresting Williams, deputies searched the car and found evidence he was involved in several identity theft cases. Deputies found evidence that he had made the fake plates, and also found a postal worker uniform that included pants, a shirt, and a hat.”
• OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: KOCO 5 – Police discover stolen mail inside stolen vehicle; “Two people are behind bars after an Oklahoma City police officer saw them sticking their hands inside a mailbox on the city’s northwest side.”

Feb. 28:

• SALINA, Oklahoma: Pryor Daily Times – Salina PD arrests family of three; “Thursday, Salina Police Chief Justin Hokett was advised that a dark-haired female in a blue hoodie had “bashed in a mailbox and stolen the contents.” She was reported to be walking down Highway 82, four miles east of Salina.”
• PALM DESERT, California: Palm Desert Patch – Two Women Accused of Identity Theft, Arrested: They’re accused of stealing mail from several boxes throughout Coachella Valley, according to police; “They’re accused of stealing mail from several boxes throughout Coachella Valley and using the contents to commit identity fraud crimes, Cpl. Joshua Reinbolz of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.”
• COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: CBS Denver – 3 Arrested For Stealing Mail In 2 Separate Incidents; “Deputies arrested Jesse Williams after finding a stolen car at a restaurant in Colorado Springs. Inside they found a postal worker uniform and evidence of stolen mail. Two people are also in custody in Durango — also accused of stealing mail. A deputy arrested Heather Cawthon, 30, and Charles Merrill, 35, when they were stopped in front of mailboxes.”