A 46-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday as part of a Pleasanton police investigation into several thefts of mail from the Pleasanton Meadows neighborhood.
According to police, a neighbor saw someone rummaging through another neighbor's mailbox and immediately called police.
At a later time, police received a report from a citizen about a suspicious person holding a screwdriver and milling around a vehicle in the Lucky parking lot on West Las Positas Boulevard. The witness provided a detailed description of the man, said police.
Officers arrived at the scene and detained Joseph Abeyta, whom authorities said has residences in Santa Clara and Modesto.
Officers recognized Abeyta from the witness description from the earlier theft and both witnesses allegedly identified him as the culprit.
Police allege that a search of Abeyta's vehicle led to the discovery of stolen property that included mail and other items that had been left on porches earlier in the day.
According to police, more than a dozen victims have been identified, many from Pleasanton, and the remaining from the greater Bay Area region.
Abeyta was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of stolen property and counterfeit currency.
Anyone with information about this incident, or who live in the area of the crime and might be missing mail, can call the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100.
Comments
Registered user
Pleasanton Valley
on Jan 22, 2015 at 8:59 am
Registered user
on Jan 22, 2015 at 8:59 am
Strange headline. It was CITIZEN surveillance, not police surveillance. Go Citizens.
Pleasanton Meadows
on Jan 22, 2015 at 9:56 am
on Jan 22, 2015 at 9:56 am
This is great news. Nice to see folks are watching out for each other
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jan 22, 2015 at 10:02 am
on Jan 22, 2015 at 10:02 am
Nice arrest...only this sounds like petty charges, meaning he was probably released same day and is back at it - perhaps in another area.
Foothill Knolls
on Jan 22, 2015 at 10:55 am
on Jan 22, 2015 at 10:55 am
@mr roberts
Hope that he tells all his friends to stay away from Pleasanton: The residents are too alert and the Pleasanton police are too efficient.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jan 22, 2015 at 8:04 pm
on Jan 22, 2015 at 8:04 pm
I thought U S Postal crimes are US FEDERAL offenses. Credit cards etc, need the toughest punishments possible. Why wasn't there greater punishment?
Las Positas
on Jan 24, 2015 at 4:46 am
on Jan 24, 2015 at 4:46 am
This guy is a known 3 striker who was previously facing serious charges in Santa Clara county. In that case he cooperated with the police and turned states evidence against several known gang members. I hope he faces still punishment for these crimes as he obviously hasn't learned his lesson and continues to waddle in that criminal lifestyle
Castlewood
on Jan 24, 2015 at 5:14 am
on Jan 24, 2015 at 5:14 am
What a loser. Unless you've had this happen to you there's no way to describe how angry and violated you feel when a loser like this comes by and steals something that has sentimental value. I hope you they throw the book at him. GET A JOB LOSER.