EAST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP (WPMT)-A Columbia man was arrested Thursday after police said he stole checks from mailboxes in Lancaster County and tried to cash them.
John Adamczak, 45, is charged with three counts of theft by unlawful taking and four counts of forgery. He was taken to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Officers responded to the 800 block of Westminster Drive in East Hempfield Township on April 4 for two separate reports of mail theft and forgery.
According to police reports, the victims were notified by their financial institutions that a man, later identified as Adamczak, had tried to cash their checks. Both people told investigators they had put the checks in the mail earlier that morning.
The banks denied cashing them because they had been suspiciously altered. Police were able to quickly track down Adamczak because he left his ID at one of the banks.
Investigators said there have been several mail theft and forgery cases reported in Lancaster County within the last 2 to 3 months. Police are looking into whether or not they are connected.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24.