Two arrested in Hollywood Park after traffic stop uncovers major mail theft operation
Police say the suspects, who have nearly 40 prior charges between them, were manufacturing master keys to raid post boxes.
Two people described by Texas police as "career criminals" are in custody after a routine traffic stop for stolen licence plates unravelled a sprawling mail theft, forgery, and drug operation.
Hollywood Park police arrested Sean Martinez, 37, and Skylar Carter, 33, on Tuesday after an officer spotted their broken-down car alongside Loop 1604, near US Highway 281. The officer noticed the vehicle was carrying stolen licence plates, prompting a search that quickly escalated from a simple traffic violation into a multi-agency criminal investigation.
Inside the vehicle, officers discovered around 400 pieces of stolen mail and packages, alongside narcotics, a loaded handgun, and burglary tools. They also found something far more sophisticated: counterfeit postal master keys and evidence that they were being manufactured on-site.
A history of crime
According to Hollywood Park police, both suspects have extensive criminal records. Detective Sergeant Travis Thornton, the department’s public information officer, described the pair as "career criminals who’ve been in and out of jail and prison for much of their adult lives."
Records show Martinez has 24 prior arrests to his name, while Carter has 15. Following this arrest, both were booked into the Bexar County Jail on a series of new felony charges, including mail theft.
Key manufacturing and wider searches
The discovery of the postal keys suggests the operation went beyond simple opportunistic theft. Thornton said investigators found evidence that Martinez was actively manufacturing counterfeit postal box keys. Hollywood Park’s police chief added that investigators believe Martinez may have been selling these master keys to other criminals in the area.
The investigation quickly widened beyond the roadside arrest. Follow-up search warrants executed at a nearby home and a local hotel room turned up a larger cache of evidence. Officers recovered additional stolen mail, cheques, and credit cards, along with methamphetamine and more weapons, including an AR-15-style rifle.
What happens next
The recovered mail is believed to have been stolen from several neighbouring areas, including San Antonio. However, police believe the pair were heading into Hollywood Park to target local residents when their vehicle broke down.
Local officers are now working alongside federal authorities and neighbouring police departments to catalogue the hundreds of recovered items and contact the victims.
For those worried their personal information may have been compromised, Thornton recommended closely monitoring bank accounts and credit reports, and suggested setting up fraud alerts with credit bureaus. Police have also advised residents to avoid sending cheques or sensitive financial information through the post.
Key numbers
- Nearly 400
- 24
- 15
