San Andreas, CA…Recently, Calaveras County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a mail theft report in the Burson community. During the investigation, deputies discovered several different pieces of stolen and discarded mail from Messing Road, Toreno Way, and Pettinger Road. It appeared the suspects pried open several mailboxes in the early morning.

Suspects who commit mail theft are opportunistic. Even if you have a locking mailbox, never leave mail in your box overnight. Make a daily routine of collecting your mail — even if you aren’t expecting something. (Remember: even a simple utility bill is valuable to an identity thief.)

The Sheriff’s Office has also received increased reports of scams involving phone calls from individuals claiming to be affiliated with law enforcement soliciting donations. The callers often transfer the conversation to an automated recording that vaguely states they are raising funds for unspecified purposes. Residents are advised that these calls are not affiliated with legitimate law enforcement fundraising efforts. So far, the suspects have been unsuccessful, as potential victims have quickly hung up during the calls. Please refrain from providing any personal information or donations to these callers.

These are just two recent examples of suspects attempting to victimize individuals through identity theft and the acquisition of personal information for further criminal activities. We want to remind everyone to promptly report any crimes, including mail thefts, scams, and suspicious vehicles or individuals. Our Sheriff’s Office employs strategic policing methods that rely on reported crimes. Increasing the frequency of reports or received information enables our criminal analysts to develop a more accurate trend profile, allowing patrol deputies to concentrate their limited resources on areas experiencing a rise in criminal activity.

Please call:
911 for emergencies
TTY for the Hearing & Speech Impaired – For Crimes in Progress, (209) 754-6753
All non-emergency crimes (209) 754-6500
Anonymous tip line (209) 754-6030 to report crimes or share information regarding suspicious activity.