RCMP in Okanagan use 'bait mail' to track down stolen mail
42-year-old man and 37-year-old woman facing charges in relation to theft
The RCMP and Canada Post used "bait mail" to track down a man and a woman in possession of mail allegedly stolen from a community mail box in Peachland, B.C.
Bait mail — where tracking devices are planted in fake mail — is used by Canada Post and police forces to target mail theft in problem areas.
West Kelowna RCMP said officers responded to Peachland after someone reported a mail theft early Monday morning.
Spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey said when they arrived, investigators discovered bait mail that had been planted earlier was also missing from the community mail box.
The bait mail led officers and inspectors from Canada Post to a vehicle at a gas station in West Kelowna where they found the allegedly stolen mail along with the bait mail.
"Amongst the items seized by investigators, police recovered a cellular phone, gift cards and Canadian passports," said O'Donaghey.
A 42-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman from Merritt, B.C., were arrested and were scheduled to appear in court in Kelowna Monday.
"RCMP and postal inspectors are continuing to work together to deliver the recovered mail to its intended destinations and rightful owners," O'Donaghey said.
Two years ago, Canada Post expanded its bait mail program in cooperation with police forces.