Full Notification

On May 12, 2023, at approximately 0320 hours, officers from the Bear Valley Police Department responded to the area of Jacaranda Drive and El Rancho Drive regarding a possible mail theft in progress.  The officers were alerted to the incident as a result of an ongoing investigative effort the Department has undertaken due to continuing mail thefts that have been affecting the community for several months.  Through this investigative effort, coupled with the use of investigative tools, the responding officers were able to initiate a probable cause traffic stop of the suspected involved vehicle at the Bear Valley Springs gate as the vehicle was attempting to leave the community.  The vehicle was occupied by a male and female who were eventually arrested and charged with crimes related to mail theft and possession of burglary tools.

As a result of this investigative traffic stop, the officers were able to recover recently stolen mail and packages from the vehicle.  The mail and packages were all from the Bear Valley Springs community.  Also recovered from the vehicle we several items which officers suspect had been recently removed from packages.  BVPD officers were able to confirm this by canvassing the area and finding discarded packaging along roadways.  It was also learned the suspects had gained entry into Bear Valley Springs by driving a vehicle that had recently been purchased from a Bear Valley Springs resident; the vehicle still had a sticker on it that was meant to allow residents entry into the Valley.  These stickers are currently being phased out and will soon no longer be able to be used for entry. 

The suspects are 39-year-old Derik Easttom and 38-year-old Luz Gudino, both residents of Tehachapi, California.  Easttom and Gudino are being charged with mail theft and possession of burglary tools.  Both suspects had misdemeanor warrants for their arrest related to past drug and/or drug paraphernalia possession. 

The Bear Valley Police Department is in the process of notifying the rightful owners of the stolen items.  The investigation continues, as the arrested individuals are believed to be part of a larger mail theft ring affecting the Tehachapi Mountain Area.