Three arrested in Hollister for mail theft, other felonies

Police arrested three people in Hollister on suspicion of multiple felonies after an investigation into robbery and mail theft, police said. 

About 2:35am Dec. 7, Hollister Police responded to a report of a Hollister resident who noticed three men sealing mail from a community mailbox, authorities said. The resident was returning home in the area of Lucero Drive and Santa Ana Road when he noticed the theft. 

Police said the community mailbox had been the target of multiple thefts over the past year. 

The witness exited his car and used his cell phone to begin taking photographs of the suspects, police said. The three suspects then attacked the victim, stealing his phone and attempting to steal his wallet. 

The victim defended himself and knocked one of the thieves to the ground, “essentially knocking one of the suspects out of his shoe,” Hollister Police said in a press release. The suspects then fled the area in a vehicle, heading toward Fairview Road. 

A Hollister Police officer was driving in the area when he was flagged down by the victim, who told the officer what had happened—including a description of the vehicle, authorities said. The officer drove toward the area where the suspects’ vehicle was last seen and advised the police dispatch center of the incident. 

The officer located the vehicle driving at high speed on Fairview Road, and coordinated with responding officers from HPD and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, police said. Officers conducted a high risk traffic stop on the vehicle in the 6500 block of Fairview Road. 

Police searched the vehicle and found a “large amount” of stolen mail, post office keys, homemade keys, a lock picking set, drugs, the victim’s broken phone and other evidence, authorities said. 

The suspects were identified as Gane Lee, of Fresno, Sombag Vang, of Clovis, and Eng Yang of Fresno, police said. They were arrested and booked on suspicion of felony charges that include robbery, conspiracy, mail theft, possession of burglary tools and drug-related offenses. 

Police said they also recovered evidence that ties the suspects to mail thefts in the Fresno area. 

The Hollister office of the post master general has been notified, and Hollister Police said they will be working with the post office to determine if the suspects are linked to any other mail thefts. 

“The Hollister Police Department would like to thank the Hollister resident for assisting our officers with stopping this crime and giving us the information needed to prosecute these suspects,” HPD said in a statement. “We ask the public to consider their safety before getting physically involved in a crime. Calling 911 to report crimes in progress, providing descriptions and license plates are extremely helpful.” 

Police said they have returned some of the stolen mail to a number of residents, with more stolen mail outstanding. Anyone who lives on Cabrillo Drive, Brigantino Drive, Marbella Circle, Cielo Court or Blenheim Court can call the HPD evidence bureau at 831.636.4330 to determine if police have any of their stolen mail.