In the digital age, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get away with any kind of crime, even those as seemingly mundane as mail theft. This past week, a couple of thieves unintentionally demonstrated how technology is shifting the balance of power in favor of law enforcement, as they tried their hand at mail theft and ultimately found themselves on the receiving end of justice.
On Monday, a United States Postal Service (USPS) truck in Fairfield, California, fell victim to thieves who broke in and stole not only select pieces of mail but also the postal worker's personal belongings, as reported by the Fairfield Police Department via Facebook. Equipped with a high-powered concrete nail gun, the culprits expertly and quickly broke the truck's rear lock, gaining access to multiple different packages and the employee's possessions, which included a credit card.
As stated in All Solano, the postal worker received mobile notifications that someone was trying to use her stolen credit card at a nearby Target while she was talking with the officers at the scene. Responding swiftly, the officers cautiously went to the store, where they were able to review surveillance footage that clearly showed one of the culprits with his newly acquired loot. The footage also captured the thief's vehicle, which would soon play a pivotal role in unraveling the case.
In a remarkable turn of events, the Fairfield Police used Flock cameras to diligently track the suspect's vehicle and pinpoint its location: a hotel in Cordelia. These cameras are known for their ability to intelligently identify and relentlessly track vehicles as they pass interlinked cameras, making it nearly impossible for criminals to evade capture.
Officer Cuevas, who had initially responded to the scene of the crime, was in charge of conducting a vehicle stop when he stumbled upon the perpetrator's car at the hotel. Inside it, Cuevas discovered not only the two individuals involved in the crime but also the high-powered concrete nail gun used for breaking into the mail truck, as mentioned on the Fairfield Police Department's Facebook page. Upon further searching, officers found numerous pieces of stolen mail and the postal worker's stolen belongings in a hotel room associated with one of the culprits.
As the pieces rapidly came together, it was revealed that one of the suspects detained, a 37-year-old Fairfield resident named John Scharff, was already on Postrelease Community Supervision (PRCS) for burglary. The second suspect was identified as 32-year-old Marina Larson of Vacaville. Both Scharff and Larson were arrested on multiple burglary charges.
