December 19, 2006 10:27 PM
Crime in the boonies
Yesterday I was coming home from a cookie party at the kids' school when I noticed all the mailboxes in our neighborhood were hanging open - and empty. It was past time for the mail. But I had too many other things on my mind to spend much time thinking about it.
Shortly after dark our mail lady came by with some packages which one of my kids brought in. She drives a small car, so I guessed she couldn't fit everything in in one trip. I sent Zach out to the mailbox for the small stuff. There was none.
That was weird. We always get mail - way too much, actually. But I was too busy to do anything other than add it to the list of life's riddles - until this afternoon when a neighbor emailed the neighborhood list to see if anyone had gotten their mail by mistake.
It turned out that 200 pieces of mail were stolen around Waterford yesterday.
That's the amazing thing: the Sheriff already has a suspect in jail - and all the mail recovered and sorted. Of course, since the mail is evidence, we won't get it back for a long time. They are waiting for the feds to tell them whether they are going to prosecute as well - tampering with a mailbox is a federal crime.
Apparently the mail thief was trying to find cash and only opened Christmas cards, so it wasn't a sophisticated identity-theft situation. The sheriff's deputies actually apprehended him in the act.
My hat's off to the Loudoun County Sheriff for such amazingly fast work!
But I'm wondering what in the world was in my mail :)
Posted in Loudoun County | Permalink
Comments
HA! Gotta love small town crime. I don't know about your Christmas letters, but none of MINE come with cash enclosed. Maybe they should begin the perpetrator's punishment by having him read all those Christmas letters...especially!! the!! overly!! perky!! and braggy!! ones!!! :)
Posted by: Lisa | December 20, 2006 8:21 AM
Hi, I'm a new reader. I think I found you by googling Advent calendars or something.
I am enjoying reading you and looking forward to your books as well. They aren't in our library!
I had never thought of wearing aprons until your apron contest. I am doing my Christmas baking and I just feel so, well uncovered without an apron now. So my project after christmas is to make a couple.
I especially admire the black and white toile one below. Do you know where I could obtain a pattern? I am about a size 8 or so in clothing.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Marsha | December 20, 2006 9:59 AM
This is the very reason we installed a security mailbox about a year ago. Just a few blocks from our neighborhood we had people prosecuted for identity theft and I am pretty sure they got it from unsecured mailboxes.
I am thrilled your thief was caught and that someone was aware enough to call him in as he was in the act. Hooray for small town sensibilities!
Posted by: imajackson | December 20, 2006 3:20 PM
This was just released by the Sheriff's Office on the mail thief.
Loudoun County, Virginia- A 20-year-old Purcellville man remains held without bond today and is charged in a series of Western Loudoun burglaries. The suspect could also face federal charges for tampering with United States mail.
David Lee White is charged with four counts of burglary, three counts of grand larceny and possession of a schedule II narcotic.
White is accused of entering a home in the 39600 block of Rodeffer Road in Lovettsville on November 1st and taking a small amount of cash and a guitar. On November 22nd he is accused of burglarizing two more homes in Western Loudoun. In the first reported burglary on that day deputies were called to the 14850 block of Purcellville Road in Purcellville where an unknown subject entered a home and removed a laptop and an MP3 player. A second report was received of a burglary on Blazer Lane in Lovettsville. In that case jewelry, a CD player and cash were taken. The latest robbery comes on Monday when White is accused of entering a home on Rehobeth Church Road in Lovettsville and taking beer and a laptop.
White was apprehended Tuesday afternoon after deputies responded to reports of someone removing mail from numerous mailboxes along the 39400 block of Rickard Road in Lovettsville. A lookout was posted based on eyewitness accounts and the suspect vehicle was located along Rodefer Road.
White has also been charged with petit larceny, receiving stolen goods, drunk in public, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and driving without a license. A United States Postal Inspector has also initiated an investigation into the thefts from mailboxes and White could face federal charges for stealing mail.
White remains under investigation by local law enforcement for several other burglaries in the Western Loudoun area. He is held without bond at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center in Leesburg.
Posted by: TruthSeeker | December 20, 2006 3:55 PM
