Police have charged a suspect in a string of community mailbox thefts. This brown community mailbox near Ross Glen Drive was the target of a break in.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
news@medicinehatnews.com
Police say 41-year-old Cassandra Chenoweth has been charged with several mail theft-related offences following 16 separate reports of thefts from Canada Post community mailboxes since February.
Chenoweth was taken into custody April 10 after police received a report of a thief in progress from a community mailbox and was found to have hundreds of items of mail in her possession as well as break-in tools.
The criminal investigation section took over the investigation and searched a local residence as well as executed two search warrants on storage lockers within the city and found thousands of items of mail in letter and parcel form.
On March 30 the News reported police had strong leads on a suspect stealing mail from older style community mailboxes that have a grey exterior in the communities of South Ridge and Ross Glen.
At that time Insp. Brent Secondiak told the News police were treating the thefts seriously because “people’s personal information, money, valuables and sentimental items can be stolen.”
Police say the investigation is ongoing and they are working with Canada Post inspectors as they expect further charges will be laid.
Recovered mail and packages will be returned to their intended recipients when they are no longer required for investigational purposes.
Chenoweth was held in custody for a Judicial Interim Release hearing and was released from custody.
She is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on May 8.
