A man’s car was found to contain a total of 70 pieces of stolen mail, according to the police. The suspect’s actions were captured on video by a security camera.
In the early hours of the morning, specifically around 2 a.m., a security camera strategically captured the actions of a man on Atwater Drive in Smyrna.
Opening a mailbox, he retrieves an envelope and tucks it securely into his pocket. With a direct gaze into the camera, he confidently walks away.
A few moments later, he returns, making his way down a row of mailboxes and taking out mail from each one.
According to an anonymous neighbor, the area where the incident took place was quite dark, making it difficult to determine if the person was using a key. However, the neighbor observed that the individual did open the entire panel of the box.
The president of the HOA immediately contacted the police upon receiving the security camera alert, enabling officers to apprehend Riquardo Hawkins. According to Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell, the swift action taken by the president played a crucial role in the capture.
During the investigation, authorities discovered a substantial quantity of mail neatly stashed inside a green reusable bag, conveniently placed on the passenger floor of Hawkins’ vehicle.
He is now confronted with multiple felony charges.
Neighbors say they played a crucial role in assisting the police to bring an end to the problem.
The neighbor shared, “We, as a community, managed to apprehend the culprit merely two days after we installed a camera.”
Homeowner Carter Hagler expressed his satisfaction with the proactive approach taken by the authorities in setting up a camera. “I’m really pleased that they took the initiative and installed a camera,” he said.
After receiving multiple complaints from neighbors about missing mail, the HOA president informed Newell that she had made the decision to install a security camera near the mailboxes.
“I have been experiencing a situation where my mail is going missing, but I am uncertain whether it has been lost during transit or if it has been stolen,” expressed Hagler. “It is crucial for people to be aware of this occurrence.”
Police are uncertain about how Hawkins managed to gain access to the mailboxes, but upon reviewing the security footage, it appears that he accomplished the task with ease.
When Newell inquired about Hawkins having a master key, the police responded by saying they were actively investigating the matter.
According to the president of the HOA, the Postal Service has been conducting an investigation on Hawkins for a year now.
Newell reached out to USPS regarding the master key and is currently awaiting an update from them.
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