Two Men Charged With Stealing Mail in Rochester Hills, Police Seek More Victims
(OCSO, June 23, 2023)
Rochester Hills, MI – Two Detroit men named in 12-count warrants for stealing mail from as many as 10 Rochester Hills homes this month are likely to face additional charges as detectives identify more victims.
The two men were arrested on June 14 and later charged with four felonies for intent to commit identity theft and eight misdemeanors for mail theft.
Since their arrest, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office detectives have identified at least two more victims and believe there may be more. Detectives are seeking additional charges against the two men.
“A combination of heads-up citizenry and good police work were able to stop what clearly was going to be an expanding criminal enterprise that stole more and more personal identities,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “Anyone in that timeframe who had placed outgoing mail in a street side mailbox should confirm that checks were received by the intended recipient. It’s also a good idea to monitor your credit cards, checking account and put a credit freeze in place.”
Bouchard encourages any resident who thinks they may have been a victim to call the Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-4950.
The initial call was made to deputies on June 14 when a resident in the 500 block of Snowmass Drive reported a car with noticeable body damage had pulled up to her mailbox and the occupants took outgoing mail from her mailbox.
Deputies were sent to the area, located the vehicle, and initiated a traffic stop.
A search of the vehicle revealed the mail from the complainant, along with mail from approximately 10 other nearby homes.
A 1-year-old infant belonging to one of the suspects was found in the back seat of the car and was later turned over to child protective services.
The defendants are Jaylen Boykins, 22, and Devon Bailey, 19. Both were released from the Oakland County Jail upon posting 10 percent of their $4,000 bond as set at their arraignment. A conviction on the felony charge carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The defendants told detectives they were selling stolen checks for $20 each and stolen credit cards for $100. Detectives returned the stolen mail to the correct owners.
The United States Postal Service has a free service for homeowners that previews images of incoming mail, as well as providing status updates about your incoming and outbound packages. Information is available at https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm.
