Detroiters nabbed for allegedly stealing mail from homes

Two Detroiters are facing 15 charges each for allegedly stealing mail from several Rochester Hills homes this month — and one of them had his infant in the car when police caught up with them, officials said.

Jaylen Boykins, 22, and Devon Bailey, 19, were arrested June 14 and charged with multiple felony counts of intent to commit identity theft and misdemeanors for mail theft. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, other charges could be coming as detectives identify more victims.

The case against Boykins and Bailey unfolded on June 14 when a resident in the 500 block of Snowmass Drive in Rochester Hills reported a car with noticeable body damage had pulled up to her mailbox and the occupants took outgoing mail from it, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies sent to the area located the vehicle and pulled it over. A search turned up mail from the resident who had made the call, as well as mail from approximately 10 other nearby homes, the sheriff’s office said.

One of the suspect’s 1-year-old baby was in the back seat of the car and was subsequently turned over to Children’s Protective Services, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives returned the stolen mail to the owners, the sheriff’s office said.

Boykins and Bailey reportedly told detectives they had been selling stolen checks for $20 each and stolen credit cards for $100.

The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The next scheduled court date for Boykins and Bailey is June 27.

“A combination of headsup 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,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard stated in a news release. “Anyone in that timeframe who had placed outgoing mail in a streetside 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 anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of mail theft to call the sheriff’s office at 248-858-4950.

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.