Less than a week after our report about three people being arrested for stealing mail from the Blue Bell Post Office, another two suspects have been arrested in unrelated thefts from the same mail bin, according to police.
As previously noted in last week’s article, investigators with the Whitpain Township Police Department said they’ve seen an increase in the theft of mail over the last five months from the Blue Bell Post Office, located along the 600 block of Township Line Road. Most recently, three people were arrested during the early morning hours of May 9 after a postal worker allegedly observed someone stealing mail from the blue mail bin in the parking lot.
Police were again called to the scene at 1:28 a.m. on May 12 for another report of a mail theft in progress, however they were already in the immediate area conducting surveillance due to recent reported thefts.
According to the criminal complaint, police observed a male suspect approaching the exterior blue mail bin and a second male suspect standing next to a gray Toyota Camry bearing Florida registration. The suspect near the mail bin fled on foot upon seeing police, and the suspect near the Toyota was uncooperative, the report states.
The suspect near the vehicle — identified as 26-year-old Raymond Cooper, of Blackwood, NJ — was subsequently detained, and the suspect who fled on foot — identified as 25-year-old Warren Turenne, of Atlantic City, NJ — was located in a wooded area behind the post office, police said. A secondary search of the area uncovered a black trash bag containing stolen mail and a universal post office arrow key that is used to access collection boxes, outdoor lockers, and other units.
The theft appears to be unrelated to last week’s arrests.
As a result of the incident, Turenne and Cooper have been charged with misdemeanor counts of possessing an instrument of crime, conspiracy to commit theft, and theft by unlawful taking. Cooper was released on $50,000 unsecured bail, however Turenne remains in custody at county jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.
Both men have a preliminary hearing scheduled on May 25 in front of Magisterial District Judge Katherine McGill.
Under 18 U.S. Code § 1708, the theft or receipt of stolen mail is a federal offense. Whitpain Township Police Chief Ken Lawson said investigators have notified the Blue Bell Postmaster and postal inspectors of the arrests, however its up to the postal inspectors to determine if they want to file federal charges.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Man and Two Women Arrested in Connection with Mail Thefts from Blue Bell Post Office
Target Manager Arrested After Stealing More Than $44,000 in Store Cash Deposits, Police Say
3 Hatfield Men Arrested in Connection with Alleged Hate Crime at Lehigh University
