It was reported on Oct. 13 that two California residents were taken into custody on Oct. 8 after they were accused of being involved in a spree of mailbox thefts. It was believed that the two targeted hundreds of residents in the Rancho Cucamonga area.
On Oct. 8, a person contacted the authorities after spotting an allegedly suspicious vehicle that was sitting near a community mailbox. The authorities used the tip to identify a 35-year-old man who was already suspected of being involved in the thefts. It appeared that he already had an outstanding warrant for identity theft. Authorities obtained a search warrant for his home. Although he was not at the residence at the time, investigators allegedly seized a large amount of stolen mail, homemade keys made for community boxes, dozens of stolen checks and equipment to print fraudulent checks.
The man was found hiding in an attic in Ontario and was taken into custody. The man’s girlfriend who was believed to be involved in the alleged thefts was also taken into custody. Two others who were not identified were taken into custody after they were accused of helping the man and his girlfriend.
Being accused of identity theft can result in severe consequences if a conviction is obtained. A criminal defense attorney may find it possible to create different strategies to use before or at trial. If the person’s property was searched without consent, probable cause or a valid search warrant, any evidence seized could be deemed inadmissible in court. Otherwise, the attorney could potentially negotiate a plea deal that reduces the severity of the charges in exchange for cooperation with the investigation.
Source: NBC Los Angeles, “Couple Arrested in Rancho Cucamonga Mail Theft Spree“, Kristina Bugante, Oct. 13, 2015
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed
