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The victim in one of the thefts told police she mailed the checks at the borough post office sometime during the holidays.
Soon after, she discovered the checks “had been altered and deposited into other accounts that she did not authorize,” Detective Sgt. Matthew Hoogmoed said.
Borough detectives reviewed surveillance video and obtained subpoenas, then arrested Jayson Chinchay, 22, and Josty Guitierrez, 18, Hoogmoed said.
Both were issued summonses for a Feb. 15 first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Paterson on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, he said.
In a separate case, detectives arrested and charged 19-year-old Dhey Alcantaradalcarme, also of Paterson, after another Hawthorne resident reported the theft and cashing of checks he’d mailed out, Hoogmoed said.
Alcantaradalcarme was issued a summons for an appearance on the same day as the others on several counts of theft, identify theft and receiving stolen property, the sergeant said.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating the widespread rash of thefts, most of which come from boxes outside post offices in various towns.
Thieves who once used wire and adhesive to fish envelopes from the boxes are now simply prying them open and snatching bundles of mail.
Police throughout North Jersey are urging citizens to go into their local post offices to mail anything of value.
They also warn against placing any mail in a free-standing box at night or on a holiday or weekend because it will end up sitting there awhile.
Although stealing mail is a federal crime that carries a prison term of up to five years for a conviction, thefts continue to increase at an alarming rate.
If you see someone fishing or tampering with a mailbox or sitting in a car parked for a long time near one, contact your local police department immediately. Or call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Hotline at (877) 876-2455.
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