Deputies deliver two mail theft suspects taken into custody
Officers find missing checks, mail in suspect's vehicle
Two other mail bags found
By Gloria I. Wang
A bag of stolen mail was recently found on Kennedy Road, and sheriff's detectives are investigating if the mail is linked to two men who were arrested for possession of stolen property.
Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies charged two San Jose men, Isaac Anthony Ortega, 23, and Vincente Rodriguez Vindiola, 21, after they found more than 100 pieces of mail in the vehicle Ortega was driving. The mail came from addresses in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, Milpitas, Skyline Boulevard, Bear Creek Road, Black Road, Summit Road and other rural areas in the county.
After they arrested Ortega and Vindiola on Old Santa Cruz Highway May 19, deputies found two other bags of mail--one on Kennedy Road, the other in Gilroy--that have yet to be connected with the suspects.
Both were in custody with a bail amount of $25,000 and were scheduled for a plea hearing May 28.
At approximately 10:20 p.m. on May 19, Ortega's car, with the lights off, was parked in the driveway of an Aldercroft Heights home. After apparently seeing sheriff's officers nearby, Ortega and Vindiola drove off. Officers stopped the two moments later.
When the deputies confronted him, Ortega attempted to hide his identity. Later on, police found that there was a $3,000 warrant for his arrest for driving on a suspended license, said Deputy Terrance Helm.
Vindiola was on "active county probation for vandalism."
When officers searched the car, they found items in the front seat area and in the trunk that included books of personal checks, bank checks, credit cards, ATM cards, income tax refund checks, magazines, catalogues, bills, bank statements and bank courtesy checks.
According to the sheriff's office, the post office is attempting to contact those who have had their mail stolen.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call Detective Sgt. Mike Powers at 408.867.9715.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
