2 Package Thieves Arrested In San Mateo While Officers Patrolled Area Known For Porch Pirates: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — Two people were arrested early Thursday morning in San Mateo on suspicion of stealing multiple packages.

At around 4:30 a.m., San Mateo Police Department officers were conducting a check of an apartment complex on the 200 block of 8th Avenue, a location that had recently experienced several package thefts.

During the patrol, officers said they noticed two cars parked in front of the complex with packages scattered on the ground next to them. Additional packages, clearly visible inside the cars, had various names and addresses listed on them.

Suspecting they had interrupted a theft in progress, officers said they began to search for people associated with the cars and packages. The descriptions of the suspects involved in the previous thefts at the location were shared with the patrolling officers.

A man, later identified as a suspect in the previous thefts, was found. Information from witnesses led officers also to a woman suspected of the thefts.

The suspects, identified as Brian Coates and Christina Bonham, were taken into custody, police said.

Investigators said the pair had broken into the apartment complex’s secure package storage room, removed multiple packages from the shelves, loaded them into their cars, and were likely returning for more.

Police said they also linked the two suspects to at least three other package thefts dating back to October

Their cars were impounded, and police said they also found drugs on Bonham. Both were transported and booked into the San Mateo County Jail.

All recovered packages were collected and are in the process of being returned to their rightful owners, police said.