VISTA (CBS 8) - Two Riverside residents accused of stealing property from peoples mail boxes in Fallbrook appeared separately before a Vista Courthouse Judge on Thursday.
22-year-old Katlyn Seibert and 28-year-old Nathan Bonds pleaded not guilty to a series of mail theft crimes.
"Each co-defendant has been charged with obtaining information of another, receiving stolen property and false personification," says Deputy District Attorney Nicolette Cassidy.
The Riverside residents are accused of going into people’s mail boxes on East Mission Road in Fallbrook and stealing their mail. They were arrested on Tuesday after San Diego sheriff's officials received several calls from residents who spotted them acting suspicious while in a small silver sedan.
When deputies found the pair, they found mail belonging to at least 36 people from various places inside the car.
"It was a crime that spanned over multiple counties, cities and states," says Cassidy.
Authorities say the suspects were caught "red handed" when Seibert was spotted hanging out of the car with her hand inside a person’s mailbox.
"Anytime you are entering someone's mailbox, it's a felony," says Cassidy.
The defendants face up to 5 years in prison for the alleged crimes. In court, Seibert asked to be let out on her own recognizance. The request was fought by the district attorney and denied by the judge.
"The people opposed the request because the defendant has 3 failures to appear," says Cassidy.
As for what Seibert and Bonds planned to do with all the mail, detectives haven’t said. They are currently investigating the extent of the crimes and how many more victims there are.