Suspect charged in Troy mail theft spree

TROY — A suspect has been charged in Troy connected with what police described as numerous reports of mail theft from residents.

The suspect, Khaira Howard, a 25-year-old Detroit woman, was arrested after an officer reportedly observed her opening a mailbox and attempting to remove mail. This occurred while Troy police officers were conducting extra patrols in a neighborhood near Crooks Road and Big Beaver Road. Police said that an investigation into the suspect and her vehicle revealed numerous pieces of mail from Troy residents, along with personal checks and credit cards in the names of other people.

In the past month, there had been several reports of mail theft or tampering in Troy. Police have not publicly confirmed which incidents have been allegedly linked with the suspect.

Reported incidents included a victim in the 4400 block of Coffey Court, who reported that five bills he had placed in his mailbox between Dec. 17 and 19 did not go through as paid. After speaking with his bank, he was informed that a check he had made out to DTE Energy for $144.21 was cashed elsewhere for $5,144.21.

In a similar case, a resident living in the 3400 block of Gresham told police that she had placed an envelope for $71 in her mailbox the morning of Jan. 3, but received a call from her bank that afternoon that an unknown suspect was attempting to cash that check in the amount of $710.

Troy police officials received additional reports on Jan. 4 that large piles of papers were found dropped in the parking lot of Athens High School. They discovered that after examining the papers that it was mail from numerous addresses in Troy, with several of the items having been opened. This included packages and letters that appeared to have contained checks.

“The Troy Police Department would like to recognize our officers for making this crime trend a priority and patrolling our neighborhoods,” Sgt. Jason Clark, of the Troy Police Department, said in a press release. “We continue to ask our residents to be vigilant amid a rise in mail theft reports. Stolen mail can lead to identity theft, stolen checks and negatively affect your credit rating.”

Howard was charged with five counts of receiving and concealing property, two counts of possession of stolen financial transaction devices and one count of driving with a revoked, suspended or denied license. She was arraigned on multiple felony charges Jan. 18 in the 52-4 District Court.

Howard’s next court date is a probable cause conference scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Jan. 26 in 52-4 District Court. She had not retained or been assigned an attorney by press time.