Mail Theft Suspects Apprehended Using AirTag 

August 21, 2024 – Los Alamos, CA – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office officials report that two mail theft suspects have been arrested after they were tracked using an AirTag locator device. On Monday, August 19, 2024, at approximately 7:17 a.m., deputies responded to a report of mail theft that had just occurred at the Los Alamos Post Office. When they arrived, deputies learned that the victim had items stolen from her post office box recently, so she mailed herself a package that included an AirTag locator device. Her mail was again stolen on Monday morning, including the package with the AirTag that she was able to track. It is important to note that the victim did not attempt to contact the suspects on her own.

The suspects were located in the 600-block of E. Sunrise Drive in Santa Maria and were found in possession of the victim’s mail, including the package with the AirTag as well as items believed to be stolen from over a dozen additional victims. The suspects are identified as 27-year-old Virginia Franchessca Lara from Santa Maria and 37-year-old Donald Ashton Terry from Riverside.

Lara was booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, fictitious checks, identity theft, credit card theft and conspiracy. She is being held on $50,000 bail.

Terry was booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including burglary, possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, credit card theft, identity theft, and conspiracy. He was also booked on several theft related warrants from Riverside County. He is being held on $460,000 bail.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the victim for her proactive solution, while highlighting that she also exercised appropriate caution by contacting law enforcement to safely and successfully apprehend the suspects. Deputies are continuing to work on this case including contacting additional victims.

Source & photo: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office