PORTLAND, Ore. — A Salem woman faces multiple charges for stealing mail from hundreds of people.
Investigators arrested West Salem resident, 31-year-old Ashley Wood, on Monday, taking her into custody while serving a warrant at her apartment near Orchard Heights Road Northwest.
Authorities found 10 five-gallon garbage bags filled with stolen mail and supplies for creating counterfeit checks. The stolen mail, police said, appeared to be "belonging to well over 200 people," Salem police said.
According to court documents, Wood admitted to possessing counterfeit master mail keys.
Woods was booked into the Polk County jail on charges of mail theft, identity theft and criminal possession of a forged instrument. She also had a warrant for forgery out of the Marion County Circuit court.
Two other people who were at Wood's apartment were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Residents, like Levi Shearer, told KGW that they are concerned about the security of their personal information.
“Fraud is a problem all across the U.S.,” Shearer said. “It’s a shame that the mailboxes don’t seem to be secured well. They’ve been left open multiple times. We’ve called the post office and local sheriff, but we don’t know if they have keys to access them, or if they’re just left open during delivery.”
Shearer continued, emphasizing the vulnerability many face: “People can gain information about you even if you have no say in it.”
“It can be anybody that can be a thief. A lot of the time, they seem normal and gracious,” added Heidi, a resident.
Detectives with the Salem Police Department's Felony Crimes Unit will work with the United States Postal Inspection Service to return the stolen mail to the owners. The investigation is ongoing.