The Santa Barbara County, Calif., Sheriff’s Office said it arrested two suspects this month after they were tracked down using an Apple AirTag that the victim mailed to herself in hopes of catching the thieves who kept stealing her mail.

Deputies said they responded to a call on the morning of Aug. 19 for a report of a mail theft that had just taken place at the Los Alamos, Calif., Post Office, according to the release.

When they arrived, deputies discovered that the woman — who was not identified by authorities — had recently had mail stolen from her post office box, the sheriff’s office said.

So, to take matters into her own hands, she mailed herself a package with an AirTag inside it.

Once her mail was stolen again that morning, with the AirTag included in the package, she quickly contacted the police, the department said.

Authorities were able to track the AirTag and the suspects in Santa Maria, Calif. Officials said they found the woman’s mail — including the package containing the AirTag — in addition to other items that police believe were stolen from more than a dozen victims.

Deputies located and arrested Virginia Franchessca Lara, 27, and Donald Ashton Terry, 37, in connection with the crime, the department said. Lara was booked on several felonies — including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, fictitious checks, identity theft, credit card theft, and conspiracy, the department said.

Jail records show she was held on a $50,000 bond.

Terry was booked and faces charges related to burglary, possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, credit card theft, identity theft, and conspiracy. The department said he was also booked on several theft-related warrants from Riverside County, Calif.

Terry was being held on a $460,000 bond, according to jail records.

Attorneys representing the two suspects did not respond to NPR’s immediate request for comment regarding their arrests.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office thanked the victim for taking a “proactive approach” to locating her stolen mail and for not attempting to confront the suspects herself. The case, according to authorities, remains under investigation as they continue to identify other victims.

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File # LA231950018

Details:

On Friday, July 14, 2023, La Quinta Special Enforcement Team deputies served a theft-related search warrant at the 53000 block of Avenida Villa in connection to a series of mail thefts in the community of La Quinta.

During the service of the search warrant, deputies located multiple pieces of stolen mail. Chila Espinoza, a 31-year-old resident of Coachella, was arrested for several mail theft incidents and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center. Additional charges will be sought pending further investigation into the stolen property.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Chris Williams at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station by calling (760)863–8990 or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867).

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # Multiple

Details:

On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at 9:00 AM the Rancho Mirage Special Enforcement Team (SET) conducted further investigation into multiple mail theft incidents that occurred between January 20, 2022 and June 17, 2022, within the City of Rancho Mirage. Members of the Rancho Mirage Special Enforcement Team identified the suspects as John Fisher, a 38-year-old resident of Rancho Mirage, and Thea Rich, a 32-year-old resident of Rancho Mirage. Between the 9 victims identified, they sustained an estimated loss of $17, 842 dollars. SET Members served a residential search warrant and located an additional 46 stolen checks, along with numerous other identity theft related items. Both suspects were arrested and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for several felony charges.

The Riverside County Rancho Mirage Special Enforcement Team as well as all members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department have a zero tolerance for suspects interrupting the livelihoods of the residents. Suspects in our communities will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest for committing crimes and stealing mail in our county.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Deputy Earley or Deputy Kelly from the Special Enforcement Team at the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1633/760-836-1623.

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