Turner Valley RCMP has laid 102 charges against two individuals suspected of stealing mail from rural post boxes last week. RCMP Cpl.
Turner Valley RCMP has laid 102 charges against two individuals suspected of stealing mail from rural post boxes last week.
RCMP Cpl. Tiffany McGregor said some stolen mail was recovered and is available for pick up at the Turner Valley RCMP detachment.
“I have 17 victims identified so far and that’s everything from cheques and Revenue Canada Mail, bills – of course nobody wants those back,” she said.
McGregor said RCMP were contacting recipients of mail recovered from the accused.
“We don’t have mail for everyone who was hit… but we do have some very important mail for some people that they’re going to want back,” she said.
Anyone who had mail stolen can also contact the detachment. They will need to provide identification.
A man and woman were arrested on the evening of Nov. 25 in relation to three cases involving mailboxes at 434 Avenue and 144 Street West, one on 64 Street West and a third at 16 Street East.
McGregor said the suspects were found with allegedly stolen mail in their vehicle and seen throwing mail out of a window.
Randy Boehner, of Calgary, and Tamara Villneff, of High River, are both facing 51 charges each, including mischief, theft of mail and possession of stolen property.
While there is the potential for identity theft when mail is stolen, McGregor said she believes they found the suspects early enough before they would’ve been able to do anything with it.
“I don’t believe there was time for them to make any kind of recordings of what they have,” she said. “There certainly weren’t any photocopies. We went through the entire vehicle. From the victims I’ve identified, it’s only been the last 24 hours that these mailboxes were cut.”
McGregor said anyone who gets their mail back and has concerns can contact the senders to advise them of the mail theft.
“Just make the companies aware that this mail was recovered by police, that it has been returned to them and they want to take some precautions if they need to,” she said.
Karen Barnert was relieved to get a call from RCMP saying her mail had been recovered.
“My biggest concern, knowing how many mailboxes were hit, was knowing there was that potential for identity theft,” she said.
Barnert said she was told there wasn’t likely enough time for the suspects to have done anything nefarious the mail.
She said she is looking at other options because she isn’t slated to get a more secure mailbox for another year.
In the end, Barnert is thankful that the suspects were caught.
“That’s the biggest thing, that somebody still took the time to pay attention to something that’s going on,” she said.
The arrest came after Okotoks RCMP reported additional cases of mischief at rural mailboxes on Jan. 22, 23 and 24. According to a press release, locations targeted included one at 434 Avenue W and 16 Street W, a second at 434 Avenue W and 64 Street W and a third at 402 Avenue W and 48 Street W. It’s believed locks were cut to gain access to the mailboxes.
