Apple AirTag leads to arrest of mail theft suspects in Southern California

Aug 23, 2024

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

Police nabbed two mail theft suspects in southern California after a woman’s creative use of Apple AirTag. Frustrated by repeated mail thefts from her post office box, the woman mailed herself a package containing an Apple AirTag. Thieves stole the tagged package, along with her other mail.

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Law enforcement tracked the AirTag to a residence in Santa Maria, about 16 miles from the Los Alamos post office.

There, officers discovered the victim’s mail in addition to items believed to be stolen from more than a dozen other individuals.

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Officers arrested and booked Virginia Franchessca Lara, 27, and Donald Ashton Terry, 37, on multiple felony charges including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, conspiracy, identity theft and credit card theft.

Law enforcement officials are actively working to identify and contact additional victims, suggesting the operation’s impact may be more widespread than initially thought.

Tags: apple, California, Mail theft, Tech

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

POLICE NABBED TWO MAIL THEFT SUSPECTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – AFTER A WOMAN’S CREATIVE USE OF AN APPLE AIRTAG.

FRUSTRATED BY REPEATED MAIL THEFTS FROM HER POST OFFICE BOX, THE WOMAN MAILED HERSELF A PACKAGE CONTAINING AN APPLE AIRTAG. THIEVES STOLE THE TAGGED PACKAGE, ALONG WITH HER OTHER MAIL.

LAW ENFORCEMENT TRACKED THE AIRTAG TO A RESIDENCE IN SANTA MARIA, ABOUT 16 MILES FROM THE LOS ALAMOS POST OFFICE.

THERE – THEY ALSO DISCOVERED NOT ONLY THE VICTIM’S MAIL BUT ALSO ITEMS BELIEVED TO BE STOLEN FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

27-YEAR-OLD VIRGINIA FRANCHESSCA LARA AND 37-YEAR-OLD DONALD ASHTON TERRY, 37 WERE ARRESTED AND BOOKED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION OF CHECKS WITH INTENT TO COMMIT FRAUD, CONSPIRACY, IDENTITY THEFT, AND CREDIT CARD THEFT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND CONTACT ADDITIONAL VICTIMS, SUGGESTING THE OPERATION’S IMPACT MAY BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT.

Apple AirTag leads to arrest of mail theft suspects in Southern California

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