Los Angeles Police Seek Suspects in Mailbox Burglaries

View of the mail box of an apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 23, 2011. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES—Authorities Nov. 9 sought the public’s help to find the suspects involved in at least 10 mailbox burglaries at apartment complexes in the Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks areas since August.

“Detectives believe a ring of suspects may be working together and will continue to commit these crimes until they are identified and apprehended,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.

“The suspects gain access to the mailboxes using stolen postal service keys, self-made keys, or a screwdriver,” police said. “They often work in groups of two with one acting as a lookout and helping carry out the stolen mail in bags.”

The crimes, most of them in the pre-dawn hours, occurred at the following locations:

• Aug. 23 in the 6700 block of Woodman Avenue in Van Nuys
• Aug. 23 in the 4700 block of Willis Avenue in Sherman Oaks
• Aug 27 in the 15150 block of Dickens Street in Sherman Oaks
• Aug. 30 in the 6700 block of Woodman Avenue in Van Nuys
• Sept. 18 in the 14100 block of Dickens Street in Sherman Oaks
• Sept. 24 in the 14200 block of Dickens Street
• Oct. 1. in the 14100 block of Dickens Street
• Oct. 4 in the 14100 block of Dickens Street
• Oct. 6 in the 14100 block of Dickens Street
• Oct. 8 in the 14100 block of Dickens Street

Police released security images of the suspects—eight men and one woman, some of whom wore masks—and investigators believe one of the men was involved in at least half of the crimes.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Van Nuys detectives at 818-832-0029, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may also use the website.