Salem Man Charged In Stolen Mail Attempt: Police

SALEM, MA — Salem police are crediting an observant citizen for helping them catch a man accused of trying to steal mail from a U.S. mailbox early Tuesday morning.

Police said at about 3:30 a.m. they received a report of a man trying to tamper with the mailbox on the corner of School and Tremont streets. Police said they investigated and determined that the suspect was involved with "mailbox fishing" — the process of attaching a sticky substance to string to "fish" items out of the mailbox.

There were multiple reports that checks and other payments were "fished" out of mailboxes in Marblehead in November and December.

Police said they then arrested Wensly Plaisir, 22, of Salem and charged him with larceny, receiving stolen property, breaking into a depository and other charges. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service was identified.

Salem police ask that anyone who believes they have been a victim of a "mail fishing" attempt contact the U.S. Postal Service at 877-876-2455 or Salem police at 978-744-1212.

Those who believe they have information on this specific case are asked to contact the Salem Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 978-745-9700 or the anonymous tip line at 978) 619-5627.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by tbe Salem Police Department. Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports.