14-02-2025
North Bay UPS Store worker allegedly stole $18K in checks from animal rescue mailbox
(KRON) — A Santa Rosa UPS Store employee is accused of stealing more than $18,000 in donation checks from a mailbox meant for a local nonprofit animal rescue organization, the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) announced Friday.
Detectives with the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations began an investigation after Dogwood Animal Rescue reported on Tuesday that two separate donors had their checks deposited into an account not associated with the nonprofit. The executives of the rescue told police they believed that the checks had been stolen from their mailbox at the UPS Store, located at 1415 Fulton Road.
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Investigators determined on Wednesday that the suspect in the case, identified as Jennifer Chenier, 36, of Santa Rosa, worked at the UPS Store location and had access to the mailbox. Chenier was taken into custody by plainclothes detectives later that day at the business.
A search warrant was granted and served for Chenier's purse and residence, located in the 2200 block of Dancing Penny Way. Inside her purse, police said they located nearly $7,000 in cash and six checks payable to Dogwood Animal Shelter. At Chenier's residence, another 24 checks to the rescue were reportedly uncovered, along with mail belonging to other rented mailboxes at the same UPS Store.
The 30 stolen checks, Santa Rosa PD said, totaled more than $18,000.
Chenier was booked into the Sonoma County Jail for grand theft, forgery, identity theft, commercial burglary and possession of personal identification information for 10 or more individuals with the intent to defraud.
On Thursday, Santa Rosa detectives said they learned of 'additional evidence possibly hidden at the Dancing Penny residence that was not located during the service of the original search warrant.' Another search warrant was executed, where authorities discovered a short-barreled Colt M4 fully automatic military assault rifle and silencer, SRPD said.
The rifle, which is imprinted with 'Military and Law Enforcement Use Only,' is illegal to possess. Additionally, SRPD said Chenier is a narcotics addict and 'therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms.'
Chenier was arrested at the Sonoma County Jail with additional charges related to the possession of the assault rifle and silencer.
'It is unknown at this time how long Chenier had been stealing checks from Dogwood Animal Rescue, or how many other mailbox customers may have also been victimized,' Santa Rosa police said in a news release. 'If you rent a mailbox from this location [1415 Fulton Road] or have sent financial documents such as checks to a mailbox at this location, you are encouraged to check your financial records for suspicious or fraudulent activity.'
Those who believe they are victims of Chenier's are asked to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department Property Crimes Investigations tip line at 707-543-3575.
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