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Wilton Cops: California Man Used Stolen Mail To Commit Identity Theft

WILTON, Conn. -- Wilton Police said a town resident helped lead them to the capture of a California man on identity theft charges on Thursday.

Elijah Jamel Chin

Elijah Jamel Chin

Photo Credit: Wilton Police Department

Elijah Jamel Chin, 26, of 1281 W. Rosecrans Ave., Gardena, Calif., was charged with attempted trafficking in personal identification information, sixth-degree larceny, third-degree identity theft, and possession of less than one half ounce of marijuana. He was released after posting bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk court on March 6. 

Police said they were notified on Tuesday of three separate incidents of identity and mail theft involving residents on Thunder Lake Road. The following day a Pipers Hill Road resident called police and reported seeing someone drive down the road appearing to take mail from neighbor's mailboxes. The neighbor was able to provide a detailed description of the suspect and the vehicle.

Police set up surveillance in the north end of Wilton and around noon detectives noticed the suspect vehicle in the area of Whipstick Road and Nod Hill Road. Police stopped the vehicle and discovered the driver had mail and a credit card in the name of a Pipers Hill Road resident in his lap. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed further evidence involving identity theft, police said.

Police are asking residents, specifically in the Thunder Lake Road and Pipers Hill Road area of Wilton, to monitor their credit reports for any suspicious inquiries or accounts that they did not authorize. If a resident finds they are victim of identity theft, they should report the crime to their local police department. 

Lt. Robert Cipolla said that it doesn't appear Chin has a connection to the Wilton area and that police notified neighboring departments about the ongoing case.

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