Man Arrested in Chicago for Mail Theft, Possession of Counterfeit USPS Master Key

A 45-year-old man was recently arrested in Logan Square, Chicago, after being caught with a counterfeit U.S. Postal Service master key, stolen mail, drugs, and numerous credit cards in other people’s names. Andrew Trotter, the suspect, was taken into custody on July 3 in the 2200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue by Chicago police officers.

The arrest of Trotter was linked to two residential burglaries that occurred in March. During these incidents, he allegedly used a counterfeit USPS master key to gain access to apartment buildings and mailboxes. The police report states that Trotter is accused of stealing mail and packages on March 20 in the 2300 block of North Damen and again on March 21 in the 2400 block of West Fullerton using the same counterfeit key.

Upon his arrest, Trotter was found in possession of the counterfeit key along with a handbag containing tools commonly used in burglaries, including screwdrivers and Allen wrenches. Additionally, police discovered suspected acid and approximately $2,640 worth of suspected methamphetamine in his possession.

During the arrest, CPD inventory records revealed a significant amount of stolen items recovered from Trotter. These items included mail addressed to different individuals, U-Haul storage keys, debit and credit cards in other people’s names, stolen or fraudulent IDs, credit cards issued to another individual, a Mexican ID, a state ID, rewards cards, and a CTA employee ID that did not belong to Trotter.

Despite the serious charges against him, Trotter was released pending trial as he was not charged with a detainable offense. Judge James Murphy III allowed him to return home to await his trial date.

Reasons for Increase in Mail Theft

Mail theft has been on the rise in recent years due to various factors:

• Counterfeit or stolen USPS master keys, such as arrow keys, are being circulated on the black market, allowing thieves to access multiple mailboxes at once.
• Stolen mail often contains sensitive personal and financial information, making it a lucrative target for criminals.
• Some mail thieves are part of larger criminal operations that involve money laundering, identity theft, and selling personal information on the dark web.
• While mail theft is a federal crime, prosecutions are typically handled at the state level.

With the increasing prevalence of mail theft, it is essential for individuals to safeguard their mail and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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