Westport Police Catch Suspected Mail Thief

WESTPORT — Westport police have arrested a man suspected of stealing Christmas presents and personal information from the mail in a series of thefts reported since November.

Police said detectives searched a 73 Cornell Rd. home on Monday, Feb. 6 and took 51-year-old John Taylor III into custody without incident.

Taylor is thought to be behind a series of mail thefts first reported in November 2022.

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Police said since then, the department has been receiving reports of mail and packages stolen from mailboxes along Cornell Road, Judge's Way, and Perseverance Lane.

Most of the items stolen were Christmas presents and mail with personal information inside, according to police.

Detectives learned during the investigation that Taylor had allegedly gotten banking information from one of his neighbors and used it to fund his PayPal account.

Police said he was also caught on surveillance video shoplifting at Lee's Market.

A search of his home on Cornell Road allegedly turned up a number of items that had been reported stolen — and police said they seized numerous other items, including clothing, hats and accessories that were also believed to be stolen.

Taylor is charged with four counts of larceny under $1,200, as well as identity fraud, attempting to commit a crime, shoplifting, and receiving stolen property.

Westport police are asking residents who may have been the victim of a theft that was not reported to the police department to contact Detective Turner Ryan.