Atlanta police have arrested 11 people in connection with a string of mailbox thefts that have “plagued” the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, authorities said Friday.
After receiving calls from residents who complained their mail was being stolen, officers set up a surveillance detail early Thursday on Gilbert Trail, Atlanta police Investigator James White said.
According to a police report, officers observed two suspects — 28-year-old Darius Snow and 24-year-old Steven Osby — approach a group of mailboxes about 1 a.m. Snow acted as a lookout while Osby began prying open the boxes and taking mail, police said. Both were arrested at the scene.
After questioning the suspects, detectives learned the two were part of a larger crew responsible for stealing mail from residents across East Atlanta, police said. They also learned there was a large stash of stolen mail being held in two rooms at a motel on Pine Street.
“Search warrants were secured for the property and nine other suspects were located in addition to numerous stolen mail items such as bank statements, credit card deliveries and documents containing personal information,” White said.
The remaining suspects were identified as Jeffrey Ward, 27; Rodericus Seay, 22; Antwan Manuel, 28; Quan Kimbrough, 34; Decquist Dubois, 36; Timothy Diggs, 22; Michael Williams, 36; Deangelos Robertson, 36; and Deshon Snulligan, whose age was not provided.
Their charges include second-degree criminal damage to property, loitering or prowling, obstruction of officers and burglary. Seven of the suspects were also charged with possessing drug-related objects after they were allegedly found smoking crack inside motel rooms, police said.
Manuel and Diggs were recognized by officers as the suspects in an unrelated burglary case, authorities said.
According to an Atlanta police report, investigators with the agency’s Major Fraud Unit and the Federal Postal Inspector interviewed some of the suspects at the motel and were able to learn more about a criminal ring operating in several states.
Anyone who believes their mail may have been taken by the suspects is asked to call police at Atlanta’s Zone 6 precinct at 404-373-5331 to retrieve their belongings.
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