Three Bronx residents arrested for stealing mail from collection boxes in Pelham and New Rochelle

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U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Village of Pelham Police Department arrested three Bronx residents Monday for stealing mail from blue collection boxes in Pelham and New Rochelle, according to a release posted on the Pelham Police Department’s Facebook page.

Jonathan Jimenez (23), Luis Gonzalez-Morell (23) and Martin Reyes-Maria (21), all of the Bronx, were charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a class D felony, and were arraigned at the Village of Pelham Courthouse, the release said.

Pelham Police and postal inspectors started getting complaints from the public in early summer, the release said. Both departments began surveillance operations to identify and locate the suspects.

On Monday, “three individuals were identified in the act of attempting to steal mail,” Pelham Police said. “Two were apprehended at the scene and one suspect fled, but was subsequently arrested. All three were allegedly in possession of stolen mail.”

U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Philip R. Bartlett said, “The crime of mail theft is personal and hits home. These individuals targeted communities outside of their neighborhoods, believing they would not be caught and could get away with stealing from the U.S. Mail. Let me be clear, if you steal the mail, you are going to jail. These arrests reflect the continued efforts of postal inspectors and their law enforcement partners to safeguard the U.S. Mail for our customers and employees.”

Pelham Police Chief Jason Pallett said, “The Pelham Police Department has been working collaboratively with the postal inspectors to combat countless crimes that have impacted our community. Our ability to work jointly together in this investigation has proven to be very valuable. We are also very proud of our patrol division whose dedication and good old fashion police work contributed to a successful outcome in apprehending the three suspects.”