Two men accused of stealing mail from Irvine residents allegedly learned the hard way that Irvine’s expanding police technology network now includes eyes in the sky.
According to the Irvine Police Department, officers operating the city’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program observed a suspicious pickup truck driving through a residential neighborhood. Police said the vehicle stopped at a cluster mailbox location, where the occupants were allegedly seen removing mail belonging to residents. Officers quickly responded and intercepted the suspects before they could leave the area.
Police identified the suspects as Nicholas James Hooper, 38, and Robert Patrick Zimmerman, 35. Both were booked into the Orange County Jail on various allegations including mail theft, identity theft and conspiracy.
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