A Wichita teenager is arrested on suspicion of stealing mail. Police say a 17 year-old was seen peeking into mailboxes near Harry and Woodlawn Thursday morning.
An alert homeowner called police and an officer found the teen in the area. The officer also found opened mail the teen's car. It appeared he was looking for money, said WPD Lt. Doug Nolte.
The arrest may be one piece of a much larger puzzle for police to solve as mail thefts have been reported across the city in recent weeks.
Tuesday, police warned citizens about a report of two women seen peeking into mail boxes in an East Wichita neighborhood near Central and Rock.
FactFinder 12 Investigators have learned the postal service sent letters to dozens of homes near South Hydraulic and E. 63rd Street, warning people their mail may have been compromised.
"It's a violation. It's like somebody breaking in to your house, stealing something from you. And in this case you have no idea what they've taken and what has been compromised," said Chuck Whitcher, a victim of mail theft in that area.
Whitcher said he received one of the letters, along with several mangled and opened Christmas cards that had been retrieved by police.
The postal service said what happened in Whitcher's neighborhood was an isolated incident and it isn't aware of any other cases.
Police say it appears the people stealing mail are looking for cash, gift cards and items that can be used for identity theft.
Concerned citizens are urged to check their mail daily and have it held by the post office if they leave town.
