A 49-year-old Surrey man and a 40-year-old Surrey woman are facing multiple charges after a combined Canada Post-Coquitlam RCMP investigation into alleged prolific mail thieves that have been working the area for months.

Heine Hut, who is well-known to police and Canada Post, has been charged with two counts of theft of mail, one count of count of unlawful use of a mail key, one count of possession of stolen mail and two counts of possession of a stolen credit card.
Charlene Saar, who was arrested with Hut at his residence in Surrey, has been charged with one count of theft of mail, one count of possession of stolen mail, one count of unlawful use of a mail key and two counts of a possession of a stolen credit card.
“This was an effective inter-agency project and Canadian Postal Inspectors provided crucial expertise,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “Once a primary suspect was identified, the Coquitlam RCMP Prolific Target Team made the arrests and then used search warrants to gather a large amount of evidence. The suspects are believed to be responsible for a large number of identity and mail theft over an extended period.”

Mail theft is a common complaint, but here are some tips from postal inspectors and law enforcement to help secure your mail and protect your identity:

– Collect your mail daily.
– If you’ll be away, use Canada Post’s Hold Mail service to suspend delivery until you return.
– When you move, file a change of address with Canada Post and advise your banks and other companies.
If you have concerns about your mail, or if you believe any mail has not been delivered, contact your mailers to ensure they have your correct mailing address, report it to Canada Post Customer Service, 1-800-267-1177, and report suspicious activities to local police.