Two recent arrests underscore an ongoing problem of organized mail theft operations on Chicago’s North Side, with authorities charging a repeat offender in one case and federal agents announcing the arrest of a second suspect tied to an unrelated string of postal thefts.
In the first case, convicted felon Patrick Allen, 42, is accused of stealing mail from a residential building in the 6100 block of North Northwest Highway on May 13.
Chicago police set up surveillance of Allen’s residence last weekend as part of the investigation, according to a CPD report. Officers spotted Allen in the area and attempted to take him into custody, but they said he tried to escape by riding away on a bicycle. He allegedly abandoned the bike, ran on foot, and was ultimately arrested in front of a nearby firehouse.
Police said a search following the arrest uncovered a U.S. Postal Service master key, commonly referred to as an arrow key, in Allen’s pants pocket. Officers also allegedly recovered 35 pieces of mail stolen from a building in the 2600 block of West Belmont Avenue from Allen’s backpack, along with 14 live rounds of ammunition in two different calibers.
Arrow keys allow mail carriers to access secure mailboxes and building mail rooms, and they have become a frequent target of organized mail theft and identity theft rings, as previously reported by CWBChicago.
Investigators say crews that obtain or duplicate arrow keys can quickly enter multiple residential buildings, steal large volumes of mail, and target checks, credit cards, and personal identifying information that can later be used for fraud, account takeovers, and identity theft. Since a single stolen arrow key can be used across wide areas of the city, they are highly valuable on the criminal market. So much so, in fact, some low-level members of mail theft rings have been known to rob mail carriers at gunpoint to get control of the keys.
Court records show Allen has a criminal history tied to mail theft and burglary offenses. In 2021, he received a 7-year prison sentence for theft and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, according to the records. That case initially involved allegations of a broader mail theft and identity theft scheme, though prosecutors ultimately resolved the case with a plea agreement on narrower charges.
Earlier, in February 2016, Allen was charged with five counts of burglary in connection with a series of incidents involving stolen mail and bicycles. Those burglaries were reported in the 7000 block of North Kedzie Avenue, the 7100 block of North Kedzie Avenue, the 7300 block of North Ridge Avenue, and the 1400 block of West Howard Street.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to more than a dozen felonies in that case and received a 7-year sentence, according to court files.
In a separate and unrelated case, federal authorities this week announced the arrest of a 29-year-old woman following a joint investigation into mail thefts and other crimes on the North Side.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Veronica Cavallari, 29, was arrested on December 15 after a vehicle pursuit on the North Side. Investigators identified Cavallari as a suspect in multiple burglaries, mail thefts, armed robberies, and vehicle thefts on the North Side and in northern Cook County, according to the agency.
Cavallari has been charged in Cook County with felony counts of being a felon in possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, and criminal damage to government property. She also faces misdemeanor charges for leaving the scene of an accident, criminal trespass to a vehicle, possession of a title or registration without authorization, and driving with an expired license. Authorities said additional charges for burglary and automobile theft are pending.
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