2 Bronx Residents Charged In Princeton 'Mailbox Fishing Scam'

PRINCETON, NJ — Two residents from the Bronx, New York have been charged in connection with the recent mailbox fishing scam in the township, Princeton police said.

Eric Martinez-Jimenez, 27, and Antonio Urena Rosario, 26, were charged with theft of identity, receiving stolen property, and possession of burglar tools. Urena Rosario was also charged with hindering apprehension. The duo was taken into custody after a surveillance operation on Saturday, Aug.21, police said.

The Princeton Police Department had said that they received several reports of mail theft and check fraud over the past few months.

Read More Here: Princeton Police Warn Of 'Mailbox Fishing Scam'

Based on those reports, on Saturday, at 1:56 a.m., Corporal Craig Humble was conducting surveillance of the U.S. Post Office mailbox located on Palmer Square West. During the surveillance operation, Antonio Urena Rosario was seen walking in the area of the mailboxes, where he walked over to both mailboxes and pulled on each door handle without placing mail in the mailbox, police said.

Police then conducted a traffic stop and identified an accomplice — Eric Martinez-Jimenez, who was seated in a parked vehicle on Palmer Square East, police said.

A a plastic bag containing mail that did not belong to either of the males was discovered during an investigation. Police said they also found tools used to fish mail from mailboxes.

Martinez-Jimenez and Urena Rosario were transported to the Mercer County Corrections Center pending a detention hearing.

Police said the United States Postal Inspectors were notified of the arrest and continue to assist in the ongoing investigations.

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