Two More Suspects Believed Responsible for Mail Theft

Authorities are considering additional charges against a couple that include alleged mail theft, which would be at least the third reported arrest involving mail theft in Southwest Riverside County this month.

Sarah Pettigrew and Preston Williams were arrested June 16 for leaving the scene of an accident after a hit-and-run traffic collision in the 33000 block of Farm Road in Wildomar, police said. The two suspects were located in the area and were taken into custody. Deputies learned that Pettigrew, the driver, was on felonty probation with outstanding warrants for her arrest. Williams was on parole.

After learning that the vehicle the couple occupied was stolen, deputies discovered numerous forms of identification inside the car that indicated the possibility the subjects were involved in identity theft. A search of Williams' residence revealed additional items, including stolen mail.

During the investigation, authorities learned the suspects were wanted for theft-related crimes in Norco at businesses including LA Fitness, Target, Circle K and a Shell Gas Station.

In other cases, victims were employees of different retail stores who reported their car keys had been stolen from unsecured employee lunch rooms within those stores. The victims discovered their car keys missing and their vehicles had either been burglarized or stolen. Surveillance video within the stores indicated these suspects were the two who committed those thefts.

Additional charges will be filed against Pettigrew and Williams through several different agencies, along with the applicable charges in Riverside County, according to authorities.

Anyone with information pertaining to these incidents is encouraged to contact Deputy June Cox at the Lake Elsinore Station at 951-245-3300 or 951-776-1099.

Several Menifee residents have reported theft of mail from their personal mailboxes in recent weeks. There is no confirmed connection to this or two other previous arrests, but investigations are ongoing.

On June 7, Menifee resident Lisa Whitaker and two others were arrested on suspicion of mail theft in Temecula. Then on June 16, Jessica Bock, 28, and Kevin Hirsch, 38, of Temecula were arrested on multiple counts of burglary, mail theft and fraudulent use of credit cards.