Tools To 'Fish' From Mailboxes, Including Adhesive Mouse Traps, Pry Bar, Sledgehammer Found: Police

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Thieves "fishing" for mail from public collection boxes has become an all-too-common occurrence in Westchester, but police in White Plains say they may have stymied a would-be mail thief before he was able to reel in any mail.

On Friday, White Plains police officers stopped a a yellow 2011 Ford Festiva for failing to use a turn signal.

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The car had recently triggered a Real Time Crime (RTC) License Plate Reader alert associated with an ongoing USPS mail theft investigation in nearby Greenburgh. Prior to the stop, officers saw the driver concealing cardstock paper inside his jacket, cops said.

Officers discovered that the driver was wearing an adhesive-coated, weighted belt under his jacket, a device police say is commonly used to pull mail from drop boxes. A search of the vehicle turned up additional "fishing" tools, including adhesive mouse traps, an adhesive leather strap, a pry bar, and a small sledgehammer, according to police.

See : Cops On Stakeout Watched Postal Box 'Fishing' Suspect Shove Stolen Mail Into His Pants: Police

A check of the driver's credentials revealed that the vehicle's registration was revoked and the suspect's NYS driver's license had been suspended four times for failing to answer summonses.

The driver, identified as 42-year-old Felix Checo Montesino, was arrested. The Bronx man was charged with possession of burglar's tools, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and operating a vehicle with suspended registration.

See Also: Officials Warn About Mail 'Fishing' At Croton-On-Hudson Post Office

Montesino was processed, issued four uniform traffic tickets, and released with a court date of Nov. 5. The vehicle was impounded, and all investigative details were shared with the Real Time Crime Center and the Greenburgh Police Department to assist with their ongoing investigation.

White Plains Public Safety Commissioner Wade Hardy commended "the diligent work of officers involved in this arrest as mail theft has caused catastrophic financial harm to unsuspecting innocent people."

See: 'Fishing' Reports Spark Warnings On Westchester Public Mailboxes