Eastchester PD Assists U.S. Postal Inspectors to Bust Up 'Blue Box' Letter Thefts in Westchester

A total of nine suspects have been arrested by United States Postal Inspectors in connection with the alleged theft of letters from blue postal boxes in Westchester, authorities announced this week.

The thefts, which occurred over several months in Mount Vernon and Yonkers and possibly other areas, involved placing glue inside the box’s chute to trap mail, according to The Journal News.

In addition to Eastchester police, law enforcement officers from Pelham, Westchester County and other agencies assisted postal inspectors in cracking the case.

Below is the press release announcing the arrests from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:

Postal Inspectors and Pelham, NY, Police arrested Anthony Monroe and his co-conspirators for allegedly stealing mail from U.S. Postal Service blue collection boxes in Westchester County.

The investigation, which spanned several months, began when customers reported that checks and money orders they had mailed from the Mount Vernon Post Office had not been received by the intended recipients. In fact, investigators found the checks had been renegotiated by multiple individuals.

Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners conducted an investigation and identified several suspects, including Anthony Monroe, as responsible for stealing mail. The subjects were charged with various offenses, including grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and petit larceny.

Inspector in Charge of the New York Division Philip R. Bartlett noted, “Anyone who attempts to remove mail from a U.S. mail receptacle should be aware that Postal Inspectors, with the full cooperation of their law enforcement partners, will vigorously pursue, arrest, and bring to justice anyone who commits a crime against the U.S. Postal Service or its customers.”

“This is a great example of law enforcement partnerships working to ensure that America’s mail is protected from criminal activity. We are grateful to the Eastchester Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, Pelham Police Department, and New York City Police Department for their professionalism and their invaluable assistance in this investigation,” said Inspector in Charge Philip R. Bartlett.