The Suspect Possessed Counterfeit U.S. Postal Service Arrow Keys.
Shortly before midnight on May 20, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department were flagged down by a concerned citizen while patrolling the 2000 block of 4th Street.
The citizen was in pursuit of a suspect involved in mail theft. Law enforcement promptly detained the suspect, who was found in possession of multiple counterfeit United States Postal Service Arrow keys, a violation of federal law. Upon the arrival of additional officers at the scene, a second suspect was discovered inside a vehicle and also detained. Further examination of the vehicle led to the discovery of stolen mail, packages, electronics, drugs (specifically crack cocaine), and drug paraphernalia.
As the officers proceeded with their investigation, they came across numerous mail packages discarded on the sidewalk, dropped by the suspects as they fled from an apartment building. To rectify the situation, officers diligently walked to various addresses and returned the stolen mail and packages to their rightful recipients.
Additionally, a separate collection of mail belonging to multiple victims with Los Angeles addresses was logged and held pending notification of said victims.
Security footage obtained from an apartment building revealed the suspects entering the secured mail room of the complex and departing with residents’ mail and packages.
On May 24, 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office formally charged both suspects involved in the incident with residential burglary and mail theft. The details of the suspects are as follows:
Suspect 1:
Name: Abraham Zaragoza
Date of Birth: March 23, 1987
Residence: Santa Monica
Suspect 2:
Name: Hector Quintanilla
Date of Birth: March 5, 1986
Residence: North Hills
