MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — Last week, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office investigators said a 44-year-old man was arrested for stealing mail and packages off people's doorsteps.
Peter Collins-Delutis, of Cleveland, was hit with a trio of new charges in addition to a preexisting felony warrant. He's now facing felony theft, fraudulent possession of identifying information and possession of a controlled substance.
Investigators said they got multiple calls on Nov. 14 around 6:30 p.m. from residents reporting that delivered packages had been stolen from their doorsteps along Crescent Trails Circle in Montgomery.
MCSO deputies went through surveillance video and were able to identify the suspect, who was driving a white Jeep Renegade.
They searched the area and spotted the SUV at a nearby gas station. They talked to Collins-Delutis and searched his vehicle.
That's when they said they found multiple packages with address labels from victim's homes. They also said they found more than 100 identifying documents from other people that all appeared to be stolen.
Collins-Delutis was arrested and charged. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and was being held on a $145,000 bond.
Deputies used surveillance video to catch Collins-Delutis.
Christina Gearn was one of his victims. A check was found in Collins-Delutis' vehicle but it was a fraudulent check that wasn't really part of her business.
"It is a family-owned business. We are responsible for what happens and I am the accounting manager, so every single check that we write, I am responsible for it or I feel responsible for," Gearn said. "It makes you feel very vulnerable when you have someone take something that's sacrosanct and it's part of who you are as a business, as an owner, as an individual."
She said they're now taking extra steps to protect themselves.
Experts said there are things to do to protect yourself. They recommend having important or expensive items sent to your work instead of your home. You can also request a signature on certain deliveries.