Michael Wieczorek Stole Christmas Cards, Presents, Mail In South Bay -- Cops
Sheriff's officials say Michael Wieczorek is a Grinch who stole Christmas. Literally.
Dreamworks 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' indeed (allegedly).
After busting him Wednesday for allegedly swiping a delivered package from the porch of a home on Redondela Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, cops say they found more pilfered holiday goods in his possession, including Christmas cards and even a wrapped package of pajamas to "Mom."
Really:
Those holiday jammies, imprinted with snowflakes, were stolen right out from under the victims' Christmas tree, according to a statement from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.
Wieczorek, a 42-year-old from San Pedro, possessed "narcotics, credit cards and identification that did not belong to him," cops said.
A search-warrant look at his home also netted, deputies said, ...
LASD Your stuff?
... a plethora of instruments used to commit identity theft, including computers, credit card reading devices, counterfeit California Driver's licenses, altered checks and fraudulent income tax forms.
Detectives say he was using that info to file for tax returns for victims and cash the checks.
Oh, and he also took some of your holiday gifts, too, allegedly.
Stolen mail, including Christmas cards and packages, was addressed to people in areas including Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, San Pedro, Los Angeles, Carson, Long Beach, Lakewood, Redlands, Temecula, Auburn, Murrieta and even Bellevue, Washington, sheriff's officials said.
Christmas cards were prominent among the pilfered mail, they said.
Meanwhile, stolen goods include "vacuum cleaners, jewelry, toys, an air-soft pellet rifle, blenders, clothing and cookware," according to the sheriff's department.
Here's the thing. If you think some of that might be yours, deputies want you to come ID it at the Lomita Sheriff's Station, 26123 Narbonne Avenue. Call 310-539-1661 for more info.
Oh, and Wieczorek? He's free for now. He posted $20,000 bond and wasn't due in court until Jan. 10.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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