Two latest arrests underscore an ongoing downside of organized mail theft operations on Chicago’s North Aspect, with authorities charging a repeat offender in a single case and federal brokers asserting the arrest of a second suspect tied to an unrelated string of postal thefts.
Within the first case, convicted felon Patrick Allen, 42, is accused of stealing mail from a residential constructing within the 6100 block of North Northwest Freeway on Could 13.
Chicago police arrange surveillance of Allen’s residence final weekend as a part of the investigation, in keeping with a CPD report. Officers noticed Allen within the space and tried to take him into custody, however they mentioned he tried to flee by driving away on a bicycle. He allegedly deserted the bike, ran on foot, and was in the end arrested in entrance of a close-by firehouse.
Police mentioned a search following the arrest uncovered a U.S. Postal Service grasp key, generally known as an arrow key, in Allen’s pants pocket. Officers additionally allegedly recovered 35 items of mail stolen from a constructing within the 2600 block of West Belmont Avenue from Allen’s backpack, together with 14 stay rounds of ammunition in two completely different calibers.
Arrow keys enable mail carriers to entry safe mailboxes and constructing mail rooms, they usually have develop into a frequent goal of organized mail theft and identification theft rings, as beforehand reported by CWBChicago.
Investigators say crews that acquire or duplicate arrow keys can rapidly enter a number of residential buildings, steal giant volumes of mail, and goal checks, bank cards, and private figuring out info that may later be used for fraud, account takeovers, and identification theft. Since a single stolen arrow key can be utilized throughout large areas of town, they’re extremely helpful on the legal market. A lot so, actually, some low-level members of mail theft rings have been recognized to rob mail carriers at gunpoint to get management of the keys.
Courtroom information present Allen has a legal historical past tied to mail theft and housebreaking offenses. In 2021, he obtained a 7-year jail sentence for theft and possession of a stolen motorized vehicle, in keeping with the information. That case initially concerned allegations of a broader mail theft and identification theft scheme, although prosecutors in the end resolved the case with a plea settlement on narrower costs.
Earlier, in February 2016, Allen was charged with 5 counts of housebreaking in reference to a collection of incidents involving stolen mail and bicycles. These burglaries have been reported within the 7000 block of North Kedzie Avenue, the 7100 block of North Kedzie Avenue, the 7300 block of North Ridge Avenue, and the 1400 block of West Howard Avenue.
He in the end pleaded responsible to greater than a dozen felonies in that case and obtained a 7-year sentence, in keeping with courtroom information.
In a separate and unrelated case, federal authorities this week introduced the arrest of a 29-year-old girl following a joint investigation into mail thefts and different crimes on the North Aspect.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mentioned Veronica Cavallari, 29, was arrested on December 15 after a car pursuit on the North Aspect. Investigators recognized Cavallari as a suspect in a number of burglaries, mail thefts, armed robberies, and car thefts on the North Aspect and in northern Cook dinner County, in keeping with the company.
Cavallari has been charged in Cook dinner County with felony counts of being a felon in possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial quantity, and legal injury to authorities property. She additionally faces misdemeanor costs for leaving the scene of an accident, legal trespass to a car, possession of a title or registration with out authorization, and driving with an expired license. Authorities mentioned further costs for housebreaking and vehicle theft are pending.
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