Police: Man arrested with stolen mail belonging to over 100 residents
EDMONDS, Wash. -- A man arrested for allegedly driving with a suspended license Friday in Edmonds had more than 400 stolen pieces of mail belonging to up to 159 residents from all over the region, according to the Edmonds Police Department.
According to police, officers contacted two men driving around in a car with its headlights off around 1:30 a.m. and arrested the driver after it was discovered he had a suspended license.
In the process of impounding the man's car, which was parked illegally, officers found a number of mail items with other peoples' names on them, according to police.
After getting a warrant to fully search the car, officers found 407 pieces of mail belonging to between 134 and 159 residents in Bothell, Arlington, Lynnwood, Clyde Hill, Woodinville, Kenmore, Shoreline, Kirkland, Seattle and Edmonds, according to police.
Police are continuing to investigate the mail theft.
I've had issues before of people stealing my mail. Even filed a police report. You know what the police did? NOTHING. Not a dang thing. Went and got myself a post office box.
@Tattooed_Angel I had a problem with mail being stolen. I contacted the sheriff's dept. and they sent a deputy. I explained that I saw a teenager approach my mailbox with nothing in his hands, and leave with mail in his hands after hearing the mailbox open and close. Since the box itself was behind a tree the deputy said that I did not actually see him steal the mail and even if I had it was petty theft and they would not investigate petty theft! He told me I was wrong that mail theft was a federal crime.
I contacted the postmaster general for that area and was told that because it seemed to be a minor the post office would not investigate as the US Attorney would not prosecute a minor.Â
I called my congressman and he got the PG to investigate and a few weeks later mail was returned to me and my neighbors and people in the surrounding area. The persons involved were two adults and a 17 year old kid. They were prosecuted and jailed.
Federal crime which means these guys are in BIG trouble. Federal prison for them.
@quidproquo I thought that too until a few years ago when my neighborhood had a female driving around going through mailboxes. The Police caught her, and it turned out that it was the THIRD time she had been caught for the same thing. She was 23. WTH???????
Bought a paper shredder long ago. Best way to protect yourself from identity theft, is shred your mail before recycling it.
@wh344Â Ummm, this was new (unopened) mail. Â Not mail sitting in a recycling bin. Â
I wonder if this is the same guy that stole my identity the first of this year. By the time I had found out and locked my credit files with the 3 credit reporting agencies, multiple accounts opened, another 4 or 5 failed attempts because identity couldn't be proven, some had charges and some didn't. He managed to rack up nearly $14k in 10 days. I talked to Lowe's and they have him on camera using fake ID and SS card. He bought a ton of gift cards apparently. I will keep my credit files locked from now on. It might be a slight hassle if you have to apply for credit and have them unlocked, but it's the most secure (and cheapest) way to protect your identity.
A serial mail thief, that's a new one.
JERK. Trouble is the only "Rights" that will be protected will be his, the victim's Rights will be considered much less important. Â This is a crime of planning and action, not a "in the moment" non-violent crime, he should be penalized to the max!
That's where my 1 million dollar check went. Can I have it ?
@Man Seveneleven Only if you split it with me.... Ha! :D)
I am constantly tossing meth addicts out of our carport rooting through our trash to get mail..... The police said because the mail was in the trash there was no crime..... I responded how about TRESPASSING on posted property officer jerk off.... He just got in his little car and drove away.... I see him from time to time officer jerk off.... I always give him the one finger salute....
@Funky-Munky What kind of neighborhood do you live in?
@Man Seveneleven Not so great.... The whole area is riddled with poverty etc.!
@Funky-Munky @Man Seveneleven Honestly never seen a meth addict in north seattle outside of aurora and lake city way.  Not in my neighborhood  in 3 years. Just have to worry about raccoons.
@Man Seveneleven Is there anywhere away from these meth creatures?
@Funky-Munky @Man Seveneleven Move if you can!
Isn't mail theft a federal offense?
@Thepriest It is. Its an extremely serious offense.
@Thepriest I believe that's from mail boxes.....
From the last ID theft story I read not too long ago, I think it was in or near Port Orchard, for every 10 pieces of stolen mail is 1 felony.
@Thepriest If I remember correctly their responsibility ends when the mail reaches it's destination.
Criminals are just stupid. Do one thing wrong, compound it with another five or ten, ensuring your capture. Â
Any bets on identity theft for this guy too?
Book'em Dano
Pretty minor incident. The mail deliverer here on my route was taking mail home and burning it for a couple of years because he didn't like delivering all that mail.
What your mailman named "Newman"?
@Blindman WHAT?! Are you kidding?
@Nordic Moxie @Blindman Nope It was the real deal, the mailman even admitted to it. he said it was just too hard of work to deliver all the mail. I can understand it when they force mailmen to deliver all this junk mail. Most of all of that is only fit to burn anyways, but he was burning everything.
"In the process of impounding the man's car, which was parked illegally, officers found a number of mail items with other peoples' names on them, according to police."...so they pull the guy over...arrest him...THEN say his car is parked illegally? I have no sympathy for the guy, but just find the sequence and description of event to be humorous.Â
@aintno1special According to police, the guy had actually parked on his own while the officers were turning around to pull him over.