(Dekorra) A New York woman has been arrested in connection to numerous mail thefts in Columbia County. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports from residents in the towns of Dekorra and Otsego last Friday that their mail had been stolen from their mailboxes.
Over the next several days, the sheriff’s office took more than 20 reports in these areas of mail being stolen. Through victim and witness observations, a suspect vehicle was identified. Detectives started working with other area law enforcement agencies and learned this vehicle was suspected of numerous similar thefts in the northern portion of Dane County.
On Tuesday, authorities arrested Rachel Russell of Van Etten in the city of La Crosse. The 20-year-old was transported to the Columbia County Jail and is awaiting an initial appearance on multiple charges related to the mail thefts. The investigation is on-going and additional charges and arrests are possible.
Sheriff’s officials say a large quantity of stolen mail has been recovered and detectives have identified several victims that may not be aware their mail was stolen. They note that law enforcement will be reaching out in the near future.
–Photo courtesy of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page
