Pair arrested, charged with Possession of Stolen mail and other crimes

Houston, TX – On January 23, 2024, a joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Memorial Villages Police Department (MVPD), with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Harris County Constables (HC Constables), Precinct 4, led to the arrest of Cody Polanco, age 23, of Houston, TX, and Tarah Hill, age 33, of Webster, TX. Polanco and Hill were identified as the suspects responsible for multiple thefts of mail and other financial crimes.

Postal inspectors, along with detectives with the MVPD and troopers with the Texas DPS, were conducting surveillance of the suspect’s hotel room when the suspects were detained nearby by Harris County Constables on an unrelated matter. At this time, the suspects were found to be in possession of methamphetamine, multiple counterfeit keys, stolen mail, debit and credit cards, and checks from various locations throughout the Houston area. The search warrant of the hotel room was executed, where investigators located additional stolen mail, checks, counterfeit arrow keys and other postal property.

Polanco was charged with Mail Theft with Intent, Manufacture Criminal Instrument with Intent, Possession of Counterfeit Arrow Keys. Hill was charged with Mail Theft with Intent, Manufacture Criminal Instrument with Intent, Possession of Counterfeit Arrow Keys and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The USPIS is grateful to the Memorial Village Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Harris County Constables, Precinct 4, for their assistance.

It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.