A mail theft investigation has led to charges being approved against five men in Burnaby.
According to a news release from the Burnaby RCMP, the investigation into the mail theft series lasted two months.
The investigation was prompted after two break-and-enters at an apartment building on the 6500 block of Telford Avenue in October of last year.
In December 2024, two men were arrested in relation to the incidents after a search warrant was executed at a home on the 5000 block of Belleville Avenue. Four men were arrested at that home, and a large number of items were seized by RCMP officers.
“Six men now face a multitude of potential fraud and theft-related charges,” said Burnaby RCMP in a statement.
A total of 1,600 items were seized. Among those items were 346 pieces of identification, 572 pieces of mail, 496 bank cards, 155 cheques, an embossing machine, and items used in making fake IDs.
Burnaby RCMP has blurred the images it has shared as part of the investigation, but they still reveal the sheer number of personal items that were stolen from victims.
Burnaby RCMP
Additionally, Burnaby RCMP has named some of the suspects and their charges.
36-year-old Jake Dela Cruz Capinpin, 25-year-old Terrence Matthew Ugang, and 31-year-old Flaviano Uayan Dalura were charged with two counts of break and enter and two counts of theft of mail.
31-year-old Jaymarc Sibal Malana was charged with two counts of break and enter, two counts of theft of mail, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, one count of forgery, one count of possession of ID documents and one count of possessing a forged document with intent.
30-year-old Christopher Steven Santos was charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, one count of forgery, and one count of possession of ID documents.
“These types of investigations can be extremely tedious and very detailed,” said Sergeant Jamie Belleville with Burnaby RCMP’s Prolific Offender Suppression Team.
“I am very proud of our Prolific Offender Suppression Team for getting this investigation to this point,” Belleville added.