Surrey investigation targets stolen mail and identity theft

Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit has made an arrest and seized hundreds of pieces of stolen mail and identification cards as a result of an investigation targeting mail theft in Surrey. This investigation began on November 12, 2019, after police received a report of the theft of mail from community mailboxes in North Surrey. As the investigation advanced, a suspect was identified and police obtained a search warrant for a residence 13000-block Balloch Drive in Surrey. As a result of the investigation police located and seized a large quantity of items believed to be part of a large scale mail theft, identity theft, and fraud operation. Amongst the seized property, police located hundreds of pieces of mail, stolen credit cards; cheques; 139 Government issued identification cards; multiple forged identifications; and counterfeit currency. They also located $6,000.

The investigation is continuing, and police are working in cooperation with Canadian Postal Inspectors to review the stolen mail and documents. Investigators will be looking to make contact with potential victims. Twenty-nine-year-old Michael Benjamin Stott, of Surrey is facing numerous charges related to this investigation including: breaking and entering, and theft from mail. He was arrested on January 9, and is currently in custody. “Mail thefts and identity thefts can have far reaching impacts on the lives of victims,” says Sergeant Mike Spencer. “We hope that this significant seizure will limit further harm to the victims whose identity and credit card information was stolen.”