The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alert mailman helps police nab identity fraud suspect
Hold-mail requests raised a red flag with Kevin Addison.
For 15 years, Kevin Addison has delivered mail to residents on Wynterhall Lane in Dunwoody.
In that time, he’d gotten to know his customers’ routines. So, when a few of his residents placed holds on their mail, it struck him as odd.
Addison’s suspicions ultimately helped Dunwoody police nab an identity theft suspect.
On Monday, the city of Dunwoody honored Addison for his crime-fighting efforts.
Addison noticed the unusual number of mail holds during the holiday season. Mail hold requests are typically made by people who are going out of town for an extended amount of time.
“The name (on the holds) didn’t match up,” Addison said at the event honoring him.
On Dec. 10, Addison informed two residents of a mail hold request the post office had received for their address, according to a Dun- woody police report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The request was submitted under a name, William Bates, and Boston phone number the couple did not recognize, the police report said.
Addison told his super- visor about the suspicious holds. Postal inspectors and police organized an under- cover sting, luring the suspect using junk mail. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Samuel Oyinola, 25, of Atlanta. He was booked in the DeKalb County Jail on Dec. 12 on charges of financial identity fraud, financial transaction card theft and criminal attempt charges.
With Addison’s help, police were also able to identify three additional victims.
At the Monday event, Dunwoody police also honored Craig Charles Dowling. On. Nov. 8, police said Dowling chased down a suspected wallet snatcher at a Publix on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. His actions led to the suspect’s arrest, police said.