PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --Three people are now facing charges in connection with a mail theft ring in the southwest suburbs.
Police said the three were responsible for stealing tens of thousand of pieces of mail from people across the southwest suburbs.
Palos Heights Police Chief William Czajowski said the thieves would forge checks, steal debit cards, and more.
"In addition to debit and credit cards, they opened up accounts in other people's names and they even made a purchase of a new car."
While one suspect had a postal key to open postal service boxes, police say they would steal mail directly from mailboxes.
Kelly Roth of Palos Heights, 27, Ryan Scanlan, 29, of Chicago Ridge, and Franklin Buttron, 38, of Worth are charged with felony counts of continuing crimes enterprise and aggravated identity theft.
Palos Heights investigators and officers worked with U.S. postal inspectors to return the recovered mail to victims.
Federal charges are pending at this time.
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