A Chicago man charged in July with having a counterfeit U.S. Postal Service grasp key, stolen mail, bank cards, and medicines in Logan Sq. skipped court docket, went lacking for 2 months, and obtained arrested once more this week in Logan Sq. with just about the entire identical stuff, prosecutors say. However there’s one distinction between July and now: this time, Andrew Trotter had the phrase “Belief” etched throughout his brow.
Trotter, 45, was arrested late Monday evening within the 2400 block of North Lawndale throughout a joint operation between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Chicago police. Officers stated he was carrying two counterfeit postal keys, suspected methamphetamine, a number of stolen debit and bank cards, and a stolen passport.
These grasp keys, additionally referred to as “arrow keys,” can unlock banks of residential mailboxes and postal service assortment bins throughout the town.
Monday’s arrest was in all probability a little bit of déjà vu for the entire concerned events.
Again on July 3, prosecutors alleged police caught Trotter in Logan Sq. as he carried, nicely, a counterfeit USPS grasp key, mail stolen from a number of folks, greater than 30 credit score and debit playing cards, fraudulent IDs, housebreaking instruments, and $2,600 value of suspected meth.
Investigators on the time additionally reported recovering a purse with screwdrivers and Allen wrenches, which they described as widespread housebreaking instruments, together with U-Haul keys, IDs, and even a CTA worker badge that didn’t belong to him. Regardless of that haul, Trotter went dwelling to await trial as a result of the fees weren’t thought of detainable offenses below the SAFE-T Act.
Now, he’s again.
On Tuesday, Decide Luciano Panici Jr. ordered Trotter detained for violating the circumstances of pretrial launch within the July case.
Prosecutors have additionally slapped him with new expenses stemming from gadgets allegedly discovered when cops arrested him Monday: possession of methamphetamine, housebreaking, felony possession of housebreaking instruments, misdemeanor tried possession of housebreaking instruments, misdemeanor theft, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers stated further expenses could also be filed as their investigation continues.
In a press launch, postal inspectors stated Trotter is suspected of being behind a number of mail thefts on the town’s Northwest Aspect earlier this 12 months.
Mail theft has turn out to be more and more prevalent in recent times on account of a mix of systemic vulnerabilities, low enforcement threat, and excessive monetary reward. Right here’s a breakdown of why it’s on the rise:
One of many largest drivers is the black-market circulation of counterfeit or stolen USPS grasp keys, generally referred to as arrow keys. These keys can unlock complete banks of mailboxes in house buildings, business complexes, and even street-side assortment bins. As soon as a thief has one, they will hit dozens of addresses without delay, typically with out forcing entry.
Mail is a straightforward supply of delicate private and monetary info. Thieves search for financial institution paperwork, bank cards, authorities IDs, tax and insurance coverage data, and checks that they will alter for bigger sums.
Some mail thieves function as frontline personnel in a lot bigger, refined operations that launder cash, steal identities, and promote private info on the darkish internet.
Whereas mail theft is technically a federal crime, prosecutions are nearly at all times dealt with on the state stage.
