The Santa Barbara County, California Sheriff’s Office arrested two suspects this month after they were tracked using an Apple AirTag that the victim sent herself in hopes of catching thieves who repeatedly stole her mail.
Santa Barbara County, California, Sheriff’s Office
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Santa Barbara County, California, Sheriff’s Office
A California woman upset about having her mail stolen took a different approach to tracking down the thieves.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, California speak Police arrested two suspects this month after tracking them using an Apple AirTag the victim sent herself in hopes of catching thieves who repeatedly stole her mail.
Police said they responded to a call on the morning of August 19 about a report of mail theft that had just occurred at the Los Alamos, California, Post Office, according to the release.
Upon arrival, police discovered the woman — who has not been identified by authorities — had recently had mail stolen from a post office box, the sheriff’s office said.
So, to take matters into her own hands, she sent herself a package with an AirTag inside.
When her package was stolen again that morning, including the AirTag, she quickly contacted police, the police department said.
Authorities were able to track the AirTag and the suspects to Santa Maria, California. Officials said they found the woman’s mail — including the package containing the AirTag — along with other items that police believe were stolen from more than a dozen victims.
Deputies located and arrested Virginia Franchessca Lara, 27, and Donald Ashton Terry, 37, in connection with the crime, the police department said. Lara was arrested on several felony charges — including possession of a check with intent to commit fraud, counterfeit checks, identity theft, credit card theft and conspiracy, the police department said.
Jail records show she is being held on $50,000 bail.
Terry was arrested and faces charges related to theft, possession of a fraudulent check, credit card theft, identity theft and conspiracy. The department said he was also arrested on several theft-related warrants out of Riverside County, California.
Terry is being held on $460,000 bail, according to jail records.
Attorneys representing the two suspects did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment about their arrests.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office thanked the victim for “taking the initiative” to recover the stolen mail and not trying to confront the suspect himself. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to identify the other victims, according to authorities.
