Deputies arrested a man on felony charges Tuesday after accusing him of attempting to cash checks they say he stole from a residential mailbox in Golden Gate.
Adriel Rivero, 21, who is homeless, according to his arrest report, is charged with two counts of grand theft.
Rivero could face more charges and a possible federal investigation after detectives recovered more than a dozen additional checks they say Rivero stole from residential mailboxes around Golden Gate.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office reports gave this account:
Rivero attempted to cash two checks totaling nearly $1,400 at First Florida Integrity Bank, 3580 Pine Ridge Road, around 11:45 a.m. The checks belonged to a local business and were made payable to AT&T and the City of Naples.
Rivero told bank employees that he worked for the business. When employees asked to see his identification, he presented a Cuban passport. The employees became suspicious and alerted a CCSO deputy who was working a detail at the bank.
Other bank employees had already alerted the deputy to the possibility that Rivero may be attempting to cash stolen checks. They also advised that Rivero had been dropped off by a blue passenger vehicle and the vehicle was still in the parking lot with two people inside.
Rivero left the bank and headed for the blue car, where the deputy was waiting for him. Rivero admitted to the deputy to stealing the two checks and trying to cash them without permission.
The deputy noticed a white envelope where Rivero was sitting in the backseat that appeared to contain checks. Rivero gave the deputy permission to look inside the envelope.
The deputy found 14 checks belonging to five different people or businesses in Golden Gate.
Additional deputies, along with detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit, responded to assist with the investigation.
Rivero was arrested and booked into the jail on the felony charges.
Detectives notified the U.S. Postal Service of the arrest. They also notified the owners of the recovered checks.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of checks being stolen from mailboxes in recent months. Often these checks are then washed with ink-removing chemicals and rewritten to a new payee for large amounts of money.
CCSO offers following tips to help prevent becoming a victim of mail theft/check washing:
- Bank online. Refrain from mailing checks, cash, gift cards or other negotiable items if possible. Check with your bank’s online services as most offer secure and easy-to-use phone apps.
- If you must send a check in the mail, use a gel pen to write checks as ballpoint pen ink can be easily washed off a check.
- Drop off mail at the post office. Take mail containing checks directly to the post office counter to be mailed, and record the names of the postal employees who take the check in case an issue arises later on.
- Use plain white envelopes to mail checks. Do not use return envelopes with the utility logo or municipality for tax payments on them. These tend to be easy targets for thieves.
- Monitor bank activity. Check bank activity online and review bank statements as soon as they are received to check for discrepancies.
- See something, say something. Be sure to call 911 if you see any suspicious activity near any mailbox.
- Report the theft. If you have been a victim of mail theft, call the United States Postal Inspectors Service at 877-876-2455 and choose option 4.