Man’s arrest in mail theft investigation called a ‘huge break’

DENVER (KDVR) — Boulder police arrested a man who they say was taking mail from the U.S. Postal Service’s blue mailboxes outside a Boulder Post Office.

Police say the arrested suspect didn’t just have mail: He had other people’s identification cards, credit cards and counterfeit keys that Boulder police detectives believe were used to steal mail from the blue USPS boxes.

Many details of the arrest were not released, including the date, but police said it happened in the “dark, early morning hours,” and that he had grabbed a “bundle” of mail. The arrest also comes after months of warnings from the agency, which said earlier in July that over $300,000 in checks had been stolen from the blue postal boxes.

“This was some really good policework coordinated by our Watch 3 officers and investigated by Detective Hickam,” Interim Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said in a release. “This also appears to be a highly organized theft ring that extends far outside of Boulder. Our community is only one part of this criminal enterprise.”

The agency called the suspect arrest a “huge break” in the investigation. However, investigators are still requesting that the public not use outside blue mailboxes or personal mailboxes to send financial checks or personal information.

Before mailing a check, Boulder police are asking the sender to consider:

• Making the payment online or in person, especially for large payments like property taxes
• Use tracking information for the mailed payment
• Follow up with the entity you’re sending money to, ensuring the funds were received

The agency said that because the investigation into these repeated mail thefts is ongoing, it cannot release further details on the arrest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.