Detectives Seek the Public’s Help in Identifying Mailbox Burglary Suspects   NR22329wm

Update

The correct Van Nuys Detective desk phone number is (818) 374-0029.

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Division is investigating a series of burglaries involving mailboxes inside of apartment complex lobbies. The burglaries occur in the morning hours.

There have been approximately ten community mailbox burglaries from August 2022 to date.  Detectives believe a ring of suspects may be working together and will continue to commit these crimes until they are identified and apprehended.

The suspects gain access to the mailboxes using stolen postal service keys, self-made keys, or a screwdriver.  They often work in groups of two with one acting as a “look out” and helping carry out the stolen mail in bags.

The following are locations where reported mail-theft crimes have occurred:

• 8/23/22, 1:07 a.m. in the 6700 Block of Woodman Avenue
• 8/23/22, 4:17 a.m. in the 4700 Block of Willis Avenue
• 8/27/22, 3:50 p.m. in the 15150 Block of Dickens Street
• 8/30/22, 12:26 a.m. in the 6700 Block of Woodman Avenue
• 9/18/22, 12:25 a.m. in the 14100 Block of Dickens Street
• 9/24/22, 2:17 a.m. in the 14200 Block of Dickens Street
• 10/1/22, 2:47 a.m. in the 14100 Block of Dickens Street
• 10/4/22, 3:06 a.m. in the 14100 Block of Dickens Street
• 10/6/22, 3:51 a.m. in the 14100 Block of Dickens Street
• 10/8/22, 4:48 a.m. in the 14100 Block of Dickens Street

According to video surveillance the suspects are described as follows:

SUSPECT-1:    Male, White or Hispanic, baseball cap, dark T shirt, blue jeans, dark shoes
SUSPECT-2:    Male, White, ponytail, eyeglasses, baseball caps and wearing various clothes
SUSPECT-3:    Male, Black, wearing various clothes
SUSPECT-4:    Male, White or Hispanic, baseball caps, dark hoodie, dark pants, dark shoes
SUSPECT-5:    Male, Black, baseball cap, white t-shirt, red shorts, light colored sneakers
SUSPECT-6:    Male, White, ponytail wearing knit hat and various clothes
SUSPECT-7:    Male, Hispanic, wearing a red shirt and blue jean
SUSPECT-8:    Male, Hispanic, wearing dark baseball cap, dark hoodie, jeans
SUSPECT-9:    Female, Hispanic, red hair, wearing plaid shirt, jeans

Suspect-2 has been connected to at least five of the most recent burglaries.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Van Nuys Detectives at (818) 832-0029.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-38551-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.  Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip.  Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.