Moraga police asked the right questions and exercised what veteran officers refer to as “beat knowledge” to break down the story of a man they found running along Moraga Road Sunday – developing information that eventually led them to another suspect and a cache of recently stolen mail.
Lt. Jon King said the episode got underway around noon Sunday when residents near Ascot Drive and Moraga Road called police to report a man acting suspiciously in the area.
Officers caught up with a man later identified as Robert Bilbrey, 27, of Richmond, and were told how Bilbrey’s truck had broken down and how he was trying to find his girlfriend. Officers obtained permission to search Bilbrey and allegedly found a check stolen from a mailbox in Orinda in his possession.
Asking questions a little more directly, police convinced their man to take them back to a truck they remembered seeing earlier in the day, retracing his steps to a Chevy S10 pickup parked at Scofield Drive and Rheem Blvd., according to King. A search turned up even more stolen mail and, after more questioning, the arrest of an alleged accomplice, identified as Joey Bonnett, 27, of El Sobrante.
Police recovered departmental ID and credit cards belonging to a San Francisco County Sheriff’s deputy and other mail stolen in a recent string of thefts throughout Lamorinda.
Both Bonnett and Bilbrey were booked at county jail in Martinez on suspicion of possessing stolen property, King said. Police in Orinda, and U.S. Postal Service investigators, were also called on to help further unravel the case and return the pilfered mail to its intended recipients.
Bilbrey arrested for auto theft and auto burglaries as recently as Oct http://patch.com/california/pinole-hercules/richmond-man-arrested-alleged-car-theft-auto-burglaries-0
Bonnett involved in shooting of rival gang member in 2007 in Pinole http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_8784931
Interesting information. It speaks to the degree which we and police often do not know the people who come to our towns or what they are capable of. It sounds to me as though police headed off a more serious crime here.
Very interesting. A couple of bad actors in town in broad daylight and obviously up to no good.
Thank you for this story and the comments. Interesting. I drove by there as the initial contact was made and wondered what was happening. He did not look happy. My last few minutes of research (so it might not be accurate) concluded that while there could be serious charges, it might just be considered a misdemeanor offense.
Interesting information from JB.
Prop 47(passed in 2014) reduced sentences for property crimes, drug possessions and forging/writing bad checks where the amount involved was $950 or less. Thousands of inmates across California were released as a result. Police officers have told me that losers like these two now know to try and keep their hauls separate and below the $950 limit so if they get caught they can walk away. I believe we will see many more cases like this. Be vigilant and please educate yourself before voting Yes to foolish propositions like 47.
Postal theft carries serious penalties or so I have been led to believe. Not so?
It will be interesting to see at what point people get tired to being victimized aand what they do to start protecting themselves and their property.
I don’t know about Moraga but I’m tired of people coming from outside of our area to rip us off. It’s not acceptable.
Get a locking mailbox…
You are so right Manny. That is why car break-in’s are off the chart now. No fear of any punishment now.
Postal theft is a Federal Crime!
Fedral Crime