TULARE, CA — Tulare Police and several regional agencies broke up an organized mail and identity theft ring on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The operation targeted a group suspected of breaking into community mailboxes across Tulare, Fresno, and Madera counties.
The Tulare Police Department Street Crimes Unit led the investigation, which focused on a rise in local mailbox thefts that began last summer.
Evidence Recovered
During the operation, investigators searched three homes in Fresno. They found a large amount of evidence, including more than 300 pieces of stolen mail.
In addition to the mail, officers found equipment used to make credit cards, fake mailbox keys, and burglary tools. They also seized stolen identity documents, financial records, and illegal drugs.
Three People Arrested
Authorities arrested three Fresno residents, aged 35, 40, and 48. All three were booked into the Tulare County Jail on felony charges including identity theft and possession of stolen property, burglary tools, and illegal drugs.
Investigators had already identified two of the suspects—aged 40 and 48—during a traffic stop on Jan. 8.
Agency Cooperation
Local, county, and federal agencies worked together on the operation. Participating groups included the Tulare Police Department, the Fresno Police Department Felony Assault Team, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The Fresno County Adult Compliance Team (ACT), a task force that monitors high-risk offenders, also helped with the searches. The team includes members from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Fresno, Clovis, Kerman, Selma, and Kingsburg police departments.
Authorities are sending the stolen Fresno-area mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to be processed. Federal investigators will sort the items and eventually return them to their rightful owners. Officials believe these arrests will help stop the recent rise in mail thefts across the region.
