Nanaimo RCMP say a couple of Grinches arrested after they were caught breaking into a Lantzville mailbox red-handed are prolific mail thieves.
An off-duty police officer was driving through the area of Superior Road and Harley Road around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
He was driving by community mail boxes when he noticed that several boxes were open and two people appeared to be digging through mail.
As the cop came closer, the suspects hopped into a vehicle and took off.
He reported the incident and followed the suspect vehicle, which was then stopped around Jingle Pot Road.
Officers discovered a large amount of unopened mail and a variety of tools used to break into mailboxes.
Robert McKay, 40, and Michelle McCallum, 39, were arrested on a number of property-related crimes, including mischief to Canada Post mailboxes, theft of mail, possession of stolen property and possessing break-in tools.
"It appears these two were very active in thefts from Canada Post mail thefts. Having them off the streets and in police custody should give much peace of mind to the general public that their Christmas packages will reach their loved ones,” said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O’Brien.
Police say McKay is alleged to have been involved in other mail thefts in the Oceanside community and others throughout central Vancouver Island.
Calgary Police Service also informed Nanaimo RCMP that McKay is a person of interest in a number of unsolved property-related incidents in their city.
