WESTPORT — A Shelton man is accused of altering checks stolen locally and trying to cash them in his own name.

Vincenzo Minutolo, 38, was charged April 3 with second-degree forgery, second-degree identity theft and criminal attempt to commit second-degree larceny.

Police opened an investigation last Dec. 24 after receiving a complaint that several checks had been stolen from the mail.

The name of the payment recipient was changed to a person unknown to the check writer and, according to the report, the suspect then tried to cash the checks.

The name on the altered checks was “Vincenzo  Minutolo,” police said.

Following an investigation using recordings of video surveillance and search warrants, police said they were able to identify Minutolo as the person who tried to cash the forged checks.

He was taken into custody April 3 at state Superior Court in Derby, transported to Police Department headquarters and formally charged.

Minutolo was released after posting $10,000 bond, and is scheduled to be arraigned April 30 at state Superior Court in Stamford.