On February 10, 2017, around 3:20 p.m., Kern County Sheriff's deputies from the Ridgecrest Substation responded to a report of a mail theft in progress in the Inyokern area.
The reporting party provided the Sheriff’s Office with the suspect’s description and the description of the vehicle he was driving. Deputies recognized the description of the suspect and used this information to locate 30-year-old Steven O’Reilly.
O’Reilly, who had three felony warrants for his arrest and is on probation, was located at a residence on Las Flores Avenue in Inyokern, just west of North Mirage Street. O’Reilly was found inside the residence hiding under a pile of clothing and was arrested after he resisted arrest.
The vehicle O’Reilly was driving was located on the property, which was found to be a reported stolen vehicle from Ridgecrest.
During the investigation, deputies located over 500 pieces of stolen mail inside the vehicle, belonging to over 230 victims from the areas of Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, Inyokern, Lake Isabella, Weldon, Wofford Heights, and Caliente. Deputies sorted through the mail and found over 40 tax documents, including W2 and 1099 tax forms and packages belonging to multiple mail theft victims. O’Reilly was positively identified by the reporting party as the suspect who removed mail from nearby mailboxes and driving the stolen vehicle.
O’Reilly was booked at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility for charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, committing mail theft, resisting arrest, and his outstanding warrants. Ridgecrest deputies are presently working with the U.S. Postal Inspector's Office and the District Attorney’s Office regarding this case.
