By Dan Marshall

‘Prolific’ mail thieves nabbed in Nanaimo thanks to off duty officer

Dec 13, 2016 | 12:12 PM

LANTZVILLE — Two people Mounties call “prolific mail thieves” have been taken off the streets, thanks to an off duty RCMP officer.

Police say the officer saw two people hanging around a community mailbox in the area of Superior and Harley Roads in Lantzville around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. They were acting suspiciously, had the mailboxes open and were rummaging around, according to RCMP.

When the officer approached, the two people got into a vehicle and took off. The off duty officer reported what was happening and followed the car. Police eventually stopped the car in the Jingle Pot area and a large amount of unopened mail and break-in tools were allegedly found in the vehicle.

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien says Robert McKay, 40, and Michelle McCallum, 39, were arrested on a number of property offences.

“They are in custody until at least the 15th on four counts of mischief to Canada Post mail boxes, theft of mail, possession of stolen property, and possessing break in tools,” said O’Brien.

time served

Nanaimo man caught with over 30g of illicit drugs avoids additional jail time

3h ago

big return

Senior women's box lacrosse returns to Nanaimo after 10+ year absence

3h ago

environmental impacts

Accidental pump activation causes minor oil slick in Nanaimo marina

5h ago

O’Brien says typically mail thieves are searching for your personal information.

“The easiest thing they’re looking for is cash but I think that most people are on to that now, they should never send cash through the mail,” said O’Brien. “Otherwise they’re looking for credit cards or anything that can be used to convert for identity theft.”

He says police believe the suspects may be connected to other mail-related crimes in the mid-island as well.

“We’re certainly looking at at least four or five in the Nanaimo area from Stephenson Point up through the north end, and Malibu Terrace. And we know Oceanside has a number of mail thefts,” said O’Brien.

Aside from the Vancouver Island incidents, police say law enforcement members in the Calgary area are looking into Robert McKay for some property related crimes there.