Woman Comes Up With Surprising Solution To Catch Alleged Mail Thieves

A California woman used an Apple AirTag to catch alleged thieves stealing her mail, a creative solution that led to the suspects’ arrest.

At a Glance

A California woman used an Apple AirTag to help police catch mail thieves.
She had experienced multiple mail thefts from her mailbox at the Los Alamos Post Office.
Police located the suspects with the victim’s mail and items from over a dozen other victims, thanks to the AirTag’s tracking.
The suspects were charged with multiple theft-related crimes; the woman was commended for her caution in involving law enforcement.

The Mail Theft Problem

The persistent issue of mail theft in Los Alamos, Santa Maria Valley, troubled a California woman. Repeatedly, the woman discovered her mail missing from the post office box she maintained. Despite numerous reports, the thefts continued unabated, driving her to seek a novel solution to the pressing problem.

Her frustrations culminated in a plan to mail herself an Apple AirTag, hoping to catch the thieves in the act. The shipment, another piece of bait in the petty crime wave targeting the mailbox, provided the necessary tracking capability to identify the perpetrators.

Tracking the Thieves

After reporting yet another theft, the woman used the technology to track her package, moving swiftly through the small town of Santa Maria. The GPS location led to the 600 block of E. Sunrise Drive. Police followed the tech-enabled breadcrumbs to uncover not just her mail but a cache of stolen items from various victims.

Tired of being a victim of repeated mail theft, a Santa Barbara County woman laid her own trap to catch those responsible for ripping her off. https://t.co/lrDSSM5G1y

— KRON4 News (@kron4news) August 21, 2024

The Arrest and Charges

In the operation supported by the Apple AirTag, deputies arrested Virginia Francesca Lara, 27, and Donald Ashton Terry, 37. Both now face numerous theft-related charges. Lara had allegedly been in possession of items ready for fraud, including fictitious checks and stolen credit cards. Her bail was set at $50,000.

Standing against Crime

Meanwhile, Ashton Terry faced additional legal entanglements, carrying multiple warrants. This compounded his charges, swelling his bond to an imposing $460,000. The case remains under investigation as detectives work to connect more victims to the recovered stolen goods.

Authorities commended the woman for her resourcefulness, emphasizing the importance of contacting law enforcement rather than attempting to confront suspects alone. This tech-driven approach exhibits a model balance of citizen involvement and reliance on trained officers handling such incidents.