Suspect linked to Janesville mail thefts caught in Iowa
If you, as a Janesville resident, haven’t heard already, the city has seen some suspicious activity with mail. According to a Public Service Announcement released by the Janesville Police Department on January 6, the Postmaster reported that “some mailboxes were found to be open recently, and residents found in areas of the city that was not near the local addresses the mail belonged to.”
There was no confirmation that any actual mail theft had been committed in Janesville. So, we contacted Police Chief Steve Johnson late last week about any updates. According to him, as of Thursday, January 9, “There have been no victims that have come forward to report thefts to JPD. The postmaster would have also reported the possible activity to the USPS Inspector. There have been no further developments.”
However, on Monday, Jan. 13, the Blue Earth Police Department notified the JPD that a suspect in a string of mail thefts in southern Minnesota is in custody. Initially caught in Iowa, Jeremy Shoemaker was identified as a Blue Earth resident and brought back to Minnesota. He had allegedly possessed some mail belonging to Janesville residents and had been involved in stealing mail from cities as east as Rochester. The BEPD’s investigating officers are contacting victims to notify them that their mail was found during the investigation.
While this suspect has been apprehended, the recent suspicious activity is still concerning, given our region’s recent increase in mail thefts. Anyone who was a potential victim of mail theft is encouraged to contact the JPD and the Postmaster.
Through its PSA, the JPD shared security tips and urged everyone to take measures to secure their mail. These include retrieving mail from the mailbox as soon as possible upon delivery, keeping an eye on people around the mailboxes, noting any suspicious vehicles or people near the mailboxes, delivering outgoing mail to the post office, reporting any possible criminal activity when it occurs, and checking home security cameras for any other suspicious activity.
Keep an eye on your mail, Janesville. Your privacy is essential. To anyone thinking about stealing mail, just remember, it’s not only a federal crime; it’s a felony.
