Sheriff: Witnesses help catch Rohnert Park mail thieves

Sonoma County sheriff’s officials credited witnesses with thwarting mail theft along a rural road west of Rohnert Park.

After seeing the occupants of a Volkswagen Beetle stopping at mailboxes along Millbrae Avenue about 4 a.m. Monday, the witnesses called 911 to report the crime. They then followed the suspects and blocked their vehicle, helping deputies detain the suspects, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies arrested Carmen Hill, 48, of Vallejo and are attempting to identify her male passenger, who witnesses had seen going through the contents of mailboxes, sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Crum said Tuesday.

The passenger jumped out of the car and ran away on foot before deputies arrived, Crum said.

Deputies arrested Hill on suspicion of felony theft and conspiracy. She also has a prior theft conviction, Crum said. They found mail belonging to other people in her car and found other mail, which witnesses said had been thrown from the car, nearby. The mail will be returned to residents.

Hill was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and subsequently left after posting a bond for $20,000 bail. Crum asked anyone with information about the man to contact Deputy Glosser at 707-565-2650.