Two men were arrested in Egg Harbor Township Saturday for allegedly stealing mail from boxes at houses within the evacuation zone, police said in a news release.
Police said they were called to the area of Somers Point-Mays Landing Road near Steelmanville Road for a possible mail theft. Off-duty Ocean City police officer Sean O'Donoghue reported seeing two men in the area, one of whom was going through mailboxes. The area was in the evacuation zone.
Egg Harbor Township police officer Brian Keane responded and found the two men. After a short investigation, both were taken into custody. Mail was found scattered in the area. Officers collected the mail and returned it to the appropriate mailboxes.
Robert Payne, 25, of Somers Point, and Charles Watkins, 24, of Mays Landing, were arrested. Payne was charged with two counts of mail theft, possession of stolen property and possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Bail was set at $5,000 cash. Watkins was arrested on an Atlantic County warrant. Both men were lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
-Sarah Watson
