Checks, Credit Cards Found In 80-Pound Haul Of Stolen Bay Area Mail

SUNNYVALE, CA — Two people were arrested after more than 80 pounds of suspected stolen mail was found, Sunnyvale police said.

The mail — from Sunnyvale, San Jose, Mountain View, Menlo Park, Sausalito and Oakland — included checks, credit cards, and other personal identifying information, police said Thursday on social media.

"Many locations were large apartment and condominium complexes with centralized mailboxes, resulting in numerous victims," police said.

The thefts were accomplished with a tool that opened mailboxes while leaving them appearing to be locked, police said.

The suspects, who weren't identified, were booked into Santa Clara County Jail.

The investigation began in July when a Sunnyvale community services officer recognized a trend in mail theft reports. Detectives investigated thefts from more than 40 community mailboxes.

A suspect who was on parole was later seen breaking into community mailboxes in San Jose

with a female accomplice who was also on parole, police said.

Last week, a search of the primary suspect's residence found more than 100 pieces of suspected stolen mail, burglary tools and stolen postal service mailbox locks, police said.

At the second suspect's residences, investigators discovered more than 80 pounds of suspected stolen mail, burglary tools and suspected methamphetamine, police said.

Detectives are working to identify additional victims and any possible involvement by the suspects in other thefts and burglaries throughout Santa Clara County.

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