Super Sleuth Detectives Break Mail Theft Ring With 7 Arrests

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- In an unprecedented series of coordinated police work, officers arrested seven people in connection with a spate of mail thefts plaguing Mountain View residents as far back as August.

Crime Suppression Unit detectives began investigating a series of burglaries in which suspects were able to enter apartment complexes armed with empty duffel bags and use counterfeit U.S. Postal master keys to gain access to mailbox vaults to steal mail.

The suspects targeted locations including the 1900 block of West El Camino Real, the 800 block of West El Camino Real, the 500 block of San Antonio Road and the 1000 block of Castro Street. The crimes often took place in the early morning hours and were occasionally captured on surveillance video.

Detectives identified and arrested several different individuals and groups believed to have been committing these crimes.

Brianna Jensen, 25, of San Jose was arrested in a vehicle pursuit where she was allegedly found in possession of mail and a postal master key.

Melissa Henry, 39, of San Jose was arrested by Mountain View police after she attempted to use a stolen credit card to purchase gift cards at a CVS. Henry was accompanied by 39-year-old Andrew Perez of San Jose at the time of her arrest. Henry and Perez were found to be in possession of over 100 pieces of stolen mail and postal master keys, over half a pound of methamphetamine and several counterfeit California driver’s licenses.

Brenden Mackay, 31, of Milpitas was arrested on the 2200 block of Showers Drive in Mountain View, after he was seen wandering through an underground parking garage looking into the vehicles. When he was arrested, Mackay was found to be in possession of stolen mail, a counterfeit California driver’s license with a stolen identity, a counterfeit postal master key and lock.

The last arrest occurred on Jan. 12, when patrol officers spotted a gold Mercedes that was known to be connected to a prior residential burglary and mail theft driving into an apartment complex located on the 1600 block of West El Camino Real. During the traffic stop, the driver initially provided a false name, but officers quickly identified her as Sabrina Abad, 41, of San Jose. From there, officers discovered shaved keys, counterfeit mail keys and a substantial number of stolen credit cards and mail.

Upon noticing a man named Steven Ross kept calling her on her cell phone, the 34-year-old San Jose resident emerged from a nearby footpath off Mariposa Avenue. Ross was known to officers as a wanted suspect in connection with multiple mail thefts and was consequently arrested.

During that arrest, a suspicious black Chevrolet Tahoe with a woman later identified as Amanda Pappas, 30, of Cupertino behind the wheel drove slowly away on El Camino Real. Officers in the area conducted a traffic stop and spoke with Pappas. In speaking with her, they learned she had a felony warrant out for her arrest for vehicle theft. A search of her car revealed methamphetamine with pipes and several items connected to identity theft.

“It cannot be overstated how much time and effort Mountain View detectives put into these cases,” Sgt. Chris Goff said. “Their dedication to relentlessly pursuing these suspects is something I am very proud of.”

Mountain View detectives worked with U.S. Postal Inspectors, who have also filed multiple charges against several of these suspects. The police department is in the process of returning stolen mail, credit cards and documentation relating to identity to the rightful owners.

The department is advising residents to check and remove mail from their boxes on a daily basis, report any suspicious persons loitering near mailboxes and be aware of strangers who are lingering in secured apartment complexes.

Anyone who wishes to report stolen mail can do so by filing a report online at mvpd.gov or by calling 650-903-6344. Victims are also urged to file a report for stolen mail with the U.S. Postal Service.

--Images courtesy of Mountain View Police Department