A man who police say was caught on surveillance cameras breaking into mailboxes at a South Jersey apartment building was arrested on Wednesday.
Phillip Willis was taken into custody after he admitted himself to the Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Winslow Township, according to police.
Investigators say Willis was recorded on surveillance video stealing from the Cooper River Plaza Apartments in Pennsauken on July 15 and July 23. He used large tin snip scissors stolen from the complex’s maintenance room to pry open the mailboxes in both incidents, according to Pennsauken Police Captain Michael Probasco.
“He gets a pair of tin snips, and then makes entry into about five mailboxes in the apartment complex,” said Probasco.
He then allegedly removed sensitive information from the mailboxes, throwing some of the mail on the ground. He then went in the elevator to the 11th floor before leaving the complex on a stolen bicycle, according to police. .
Police say Willis moved the cameras prior to committing the crime, but not before a clear image of his face was captured.
Willis is charged with burglary, theft and possession of burglary tools. Officials have not yet released any information on bail.
