Man sought in post office box break-ins caught

The man sought in a recent string of post office box break-ins at the Yuma Main Post Office is now in custody.

Sgt. Clint Norred, a spokesman for the Yuma Police Department, said officers arrested 34-year-old Armando Castanon at approximately 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, within hours of the U.S. Postal Service asking the public for its help in identifying a man in a photo who they suspected was the thief.

“We had calls coming in right away,” Norred said.

In a follow-up on one of the many anonymous tips, Castanon was arrested in the 1000 block of East Estrella Lane. Norred said officers also recovered some of the stolen mail.

Castanon was booked into the Yuma County jail on two counts each of burglary and possession of burglary tools, both felonies. Police are also asking prosecutors to file two misdemeanor charges of theft against him.

Castanon made his initial appearance in Yuma Justice Court Thursday afternoon before Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart, who informed him of the charges he was facing. Castanon is scheduled to return to court Monday for his arraignment. Prosecutors have until then to file a criminal complaint against him.

Prosecutor William Katz, of the Yuma County Attorney's Office, asked the judge to set Castanon's bond at $300,000 — $150,000 for each of the two cases against him — which the judge agreed to do.

In addition, Castanon may face federal charges. Mail theft is a federal crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

YPD and postal investigators believe there may be other unreported victims in the break-ins. They are asked to call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-877-876-2455, option 3, or Yuma Detective Montana at 373-4700.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.