4 accused of mail theft from hundreds in O.C.

Four people remained in custody Thursday after Brea police found mail addressed to nearly 600 people in what investigators said was an identity-theft ring.

A Yorba Linda resident called Brea police shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday to report a white Ford Explorer driving slowly down Las Patranas and stopping at every home, authorities said Thursday.

Half an hour later, an officer stopped a sport-utility vehicle in the area and discovered more than 500 pieces of mail belonging to 67 residences on 19 streets in the eastern part of Yorba Linda, police said.

Also found was a type of pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, Sgt. Darrin Devereux said.

The driver, Antonio Cortez, 30, of La Habra, was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Passengers Vanessa Miranda, 21, of La Habra and Juana Gonzalez, 28, of Fullerton were arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of stolen property, Devereux said.

Police searched the Brea motel room where the three were staying and discovered mail belonging to 500 more people.

Two more suspects, Francisco Velarde, 29, of Buena Park and a 17-year-old La Habra resident, were arrested at the motel on suspicion of possession of stolen property, Devereux said.

Cortez, Miranda and Gonzalez were booked at Orange County Jail and were ineligible for bail because of prior violations, Devereux said.

Velarde remained in custody in lieu of $30,000 bail.

The teenager, whose name was withheld because of his age, was released to his family.

The Brea Police Department, which serves Yorba Linda, has turned over the case to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Devereux said.

seema.mehta@latimes.com