East Lake Man Accused of Breaking Into Mailboxes

An East Lake man used a tire iron to break into a postal kiosk at his apartment complex and then took mail from at least one of the mailboxes, according to Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies.

Charles William Bench, 35, lives in the Sabal Palm apartments in East Lake's Boot Ranch community. Around 7 a.m. on May 31, deputies say Bench pried open six racks of boxes in a 16 foot-long concrete mailbox kiosk. The kiosk was used by residents of building six at the Sabal Palm apartment complex.

Mail from box 204 was found in Bench's vehicle, along with the tire iron, according to an arrest affidavit. Bench told deputies that he pried it open because he could not get into his mailbox and needed to get his mail.

Bench tried to pry open a 7th rack of mail, but was unsuccessful.

He is charged with two counts of felony burglary of an unoccupied structure and one count of burglary; possession of tools. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and was released after posting $15,000 bond.

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