Edmonds Police Arrest Suspected Mail Thieves Near Lake Ballinger

Edmonds police have arrested two suspects on suspicion of mail theft.

On Tuesday morning at 8:37 a.m., police responded to a report of mail theft in the 23800 block of 74th Avenue West in the Lake Ballinger neighborhood.

According to Sgt. Mike Blackburn, an alert neighbor observed a 26-year-old white female and 31-year-old white male taking mail out of neighborhood mailboxes and putting it into a bag they carried.

The witness informed police that the suspects were not known to the Edmonds neighborhood. Within three minutes, the first police officer arrived and saw the suspicious couple walking a short distance from the crime scene.  

The couple nervously tried to explain their presence in the area by stating they were out for a walk, said Blackburn. While the officer spoke to the suspects, an assisting police officer contacted the witness, who positively identified the couple as those observed stealing mail moments earlier.

The suspects were arrested, and stolen property was found in their possession. After obtaining a search warrant, police checked the contents of the suspects’ large shoulder-type bag. Inside, they recovered more than 40 separate pieces of stolen mail belonging to nine different victims. 

The man and woman were booked at the Snohomish County Jail.