Two individuals from Stockton, California, are now facing a multitude of criminal charges after they were apprehended by Turlock Police officers with over 400 stolen mail items. The capture of these suspects was made possible thanks to the sharp eyes of an observant witness who promptly reported the incident to the police department.

Incident at Park Knolls Apartment Complex

The witness was present at the Park Knolls Apartment complex, located at 1100 Pedras Road, when they noticed that the community mailbox had been forcefully accessed. Furthermore, they witnessed a vehicle hastily leaving the complex and immediately contacted the police department at 8:47 a.m. on Tuesday to report the incident.

The witness provided the police dispatchers with a detailed description of the vehicle, as well as the driver and their passenger.

Police Chase and Apprehension

Turlock Police Officer Martin Marquez was en route to the apartment complex when he spotted the described vehicle. He attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Michael Mascarenas from Stockton, evaded the officer’s command and sped away, according to Turlock Police spokeswoman Dominique Sanchez.

A high-speed pursuit ensued, involving multiple officers. Eventually, Mascarenas’ attempt to evade the police resulted in his vehicle becoming inoperable when he took it off the highway, leading to his arrest. His passenger, 20-year-old Angel Galvan from Stockton, also attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by the officers.

Discovery of Stolen Mail

During an inventory search of the suspects’ vehicle, the police discovered a significant amount of stolen mail from Turlock. In fact, they found over 400 pieces of mail in their possession, according to Sanchez.

Arrests and Charges

While Angel Galvan was already on probation for theft, Michael Mascarenas had four outstanding warrants, one of which was related to theft. Mascarenas was subsequently arrested and booked for charges including evading, resisting arrest, possession of stolen mail, identity theft, and the outstanding warrants. Galvan, on the other hand, was arrested and booked for resisting arrest and possession of stolen property. Sanchez added that both individuals may face additional charges in the future.

Assistance for Mail Recipients

Detectives are currently aiding in the processing of the recovered mail and will be reaching out to the rightful recipients to return their stolen items. The Turlock Police Department reminds individuals to be vigilant about checking their mailboxes regularly. If anyone suspects that their mail has been tampered with or stolen, it is advised to monitor their credit reports for any suspicious or fraudulent activities.

The United States Postal Service offers a valuable service called Informed Delivery, which can provide scanned images of mail scheduled for delivery at a specific address. This service allows individuals to anticipate incoming mail or identify any missing items in case of a mailbox break-in. To learn more about Informed Delivery or to sign up, visit the official website: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action

Reporting Stolen Mail

If anyone’s mail has been stolen or if their community mailbox has been tampered with, it is crucial to report the incident to the Turlock Police Department by calling (209) 668-1200. Additionally, individuals can contact the USPS Postal Inspectors at 1-877-976-2455 to make a formal report. Reports can also be made online through the TPD website: https://ci.turlock.ca.us/policedepartment/crime/reportacrime/.