Mail Theft Suspects Had 'Several Hundred Thousand' In Stolen Checks

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — New Rochelle police are crediting a tip about two men apparently trying to steal from a FedEx box with helping to foil a suspected mail theft operation.

On Wednesday, shortly after 4:30 p.m., New Rochelle police responded to the area of 56 Harrison Street after a good Samaritan reported that two men were attempting to gain access to a FedEx mailing box. Officers responded to the area looking for the two men and silver SUV described, but did not see anything suspicious at the location.

A short time later, the suspect SUV was spotted heading south on Davenport Avenue. The occupants of the SUV abandoned their vehicle, but were located in the nearby Echo Bay Drive.

Both suspects were stopped, interviewed and subsequently arrested. Thomas O. Mensah, 24, from Flushing was charged with criminal possession of stolen property 2nd degree and criminal mischief. Xavier A. Montgomery, 26, also from Queens, was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, criminal mischief and reckless driving.

Several hundred thousand dollars in checks were found on their person and a large number of opened assorted mail and FedEx shipping envelopes were located in their SUV, police said. Additional FedEx opened envelopes were found nearby on Echo Bay Drive as well, according to investigators.

Investigators believe the stolen envelopes were taken from UPS and FedEx boxes by the suspects. None of the recovered mail appears to have been stolen in New Rochelle. Police said that those in the area who have recently used FedEx or UPS should contact those agencies, or the New Rochelle Police Department.