COSTA MESA – Three people were arrested Sunday with stolen mail and instructions on how to commit identity theft, said Lt. Victor Bakkila of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Officers began patrolling the 1300 block of Begonia Avenue around 4 p.m. Sunday after callers told dispatchers a group of people might be rifling through mailboxes, Bakkila said.

Police approached a vehicle and spoke with the driver, Tyrone Brinson, 35, of Ontario.

“During a consent search of the car, manila envelopes and folders containing stolen mail and personal information were located in the vehicle,” Bakkila said.

It was later determined that Brinson was on bail for a prior identity-theft case.

A female passenger, Stephanie Senechal, 22, of Santa Ana had a folder in her purse with instructions for committing identity theft, Bakkila said.

A male passenger, Benedict Erazoquinones, 28, of Paramount initially gave officers a false name, but was later positively identified and found to have a felony probation warrant in Los Angeles, authorities said.

All three were booked for possession of methamphetamine and stolen mail, Bakkila said. Investigators were evaluating whether they’ll ask the District Attorney’s Office to pursue an identity-theft case against the trio.

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