Motorist's report leads to mail theft arrests

POST FALLS — When Erica Kovacs saw several mailboxes open in her neighborhood on Wednesday morning, she suspected thieves had made their rounds.

The Post Falls woman said she also had multiple outgoing bills swiped from her box.

Kovacs was relieved later that day to learn that two suspects, Dakota Brockway, 18, and Issac Scovel, 19, both of Post Falls, had been arrested Tuesday night for mail theft near her home on Quail Run.

However, the whereabouts of her bills remains a mystery.

Kovacs said she had to spend $31 each to cancel her five outgoing checks on top of other recent hardships.

"I'm sure nothing too malicious was intended, but the ripple effect it has caused has been substantial," she said.

Kovacs said when she called police about the theft, she learned they were already working on a mail theft case in her neighborhood.

Post Falls Police Capt. Greg McLean said at least 23 homes south of Poleline Avenue were targeted, including on Wagon Trail, Prairieview, Decaro, Horsehaven, Luke and Quail Run.

A female was driving westbound on Horsehaven around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday when she reported to police seeing two suspicious men in dark clothing going through mailboxes, McLean said.

Officers contacted Brockway and Scovel, who admitted to the thefts, McLean said.

"Lo and behold, they had mail," McLean said.

Both suspects live in the vicinity of where the alleged crimes occurred, McLean said. They may face federal charges since it involved mail, he said.

"We'll contact postal law enforcement as they may be interested in taking the case over," McLean said.

This is the first major mail theft case in recent memory in Post Falls, McLean said.

Arrests in mail theft cases are difficult because they generally occur at night and the suspects are on the move, he said.

Residents are encouraged not to leave their outgoing mail in their boxes for several hours or overnight, police say. If it's going to be several hours before the mail is collected, residents are urged to take their outgoing mail to a collection box or post office instead.