Golden State Today

Two suspects involved in mail theft have been apprehended with the assistance of an AirTag locator device. On Monday, August 19, 2024, at approximately 7:17 a.m., deputies responded to a report of mail theft at the Los Alamos Post Office. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the victim had recently experienced theft from her post office box and had mailed herself a package containing an AirTag locator device as a precaution. The package was stolen again on Monday morning, allowing the victim to track it.

The suspects were found in the 600-block of E. Sunrise Drive in Santa Maria and were discovered with the victim’s mail, including the package containing the AirTag. They also possessed items believed to be stolen from over a dozen additional victims. The suspects are identified as Virginia Franchessca Lara, 27, from Santa Maria and Donald Ashton Terry, 37, from Riverside.

Lara has been booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, fictitious checks, identity theft, credit card theft, and conspiracy. She is being held on $50,000 bail.

Terry has been booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including burglary, possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, credit card theft, identity theft, and conspiracy. He also faces several theft-related warrants from Riverside County and is being held on $460,000 bail.

"The Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the victim for her proactive solution," stated law enforcement officials while highlighting that she exercised appropriate caution by contacting authorities rather than confronting the suspects directly. Deputies continue their investigation into this case and are reaching out to additional victims.