WESTPORT — A New York man has been charged in another local case of checks stolen from the mail — this time, a box of blank checks — and cashing one of the swiped checks for more than $24,000.
Justen Diaz, 19, of Bronx, N.Y., was charged Sept. 1 with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny.
Westport has been targeted by thieves who, after stealing checks from mailboxes in town, altered details on the checks and deposited them into personal bank accounts.
The crime is informally called “check washing,” and Westport police issued a warning about the thefts early this year.
In this latest instance of checks stolen from the mail, however, the checks were blank.
Police were notified last Jan. 11 that mail stolen from a Northgate Lane home included a box of new checks. The complainant told officers that one of the stolen checks subsequently was cashed for more than $24,000.
The police detective investigating the case learned the check was deposited at a Bank of America branch, and after a search warrant was issued, identified Diaz as the account holder.
After gathering additional evidence, a warrant for the arrest of Diaz was issued.
Diaz turned himself in Sept. 1 at Police Department headquarters, and was held on $150,000 bond.
He was transported later that day for arraignment at state Superior Court in Stamford.
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