Santa Clara: 12 arrested in mail theft, fraud ring

SANTA CLARA – An investigation into a South Bay-based mail theft and fraud ring culminated last week in the arrest of at least a dozen suspects, according to authorities.

The criminal probe started on Aug. 5 when officers went to the 1900 block of Hillebrant Place for a mail theft investigation, the Santa Clara Police Department said Monday.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect leaving the scene in a Lexus. Detectives later stopped and identified the suspect, who was linked to a “major fraud ring specializing in mail theft,” according to police.

After identifying two apartments related to the suspected ring, detectives served two search warrants on Aug. 14 in Santa Clara and San Jose. Nine suspects were detained in San Jose and three were detained in Santa Clara.

A search of an apartment in the 500 block of Moreland Avenue in Santa Clara turned up stolen mail, USPS keys, USPS locks and a USPS uniform, according to police.

Detectives also found drugs packaged for sale, body armor, notebooks containing personal identifying information, electronic gambling machines and other stolen property, police said.

The stolen property included IDs, passports, checkbooks, credit cards and license plates.

The suspects were arrested for outstanding warrants and other charges related to the possession of stolen property, drugs, fraud and resisting arrest, according to police.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Patrick Baldassari at 408-615-4818 or pbaldassari@santaclaraca.gov, or the anonymous tip line at 408-615-4847.