MATTAPOISETT – A high speed police chase occurred in Mattapoisett on Friday, resulting in the arrests of two Dorchester teens who were stealing and altering checks totaling $250,000 from Mattapoisett residents.

Throughout the week, Mattapoisett Police said they received multiple reports of stolen and altered checks from residents who mailed their checks at the Mattapoisett Post Office from outside mailboxes.

When the police investigated these reports, they determined the mail was stolen from outside the post office, and then altered for large amounts and deposited or cashed out of state. This crime is often referred to as “mailbox fishing.”

The reported stolen checks totaled over $250,000.

The police conducted surveillance at the post office, and at 4:45 a.m. on Aug. 19 an officer observed two people fishing mail from the depositories. The officer approached the parties who fled to a white Acura parked on Hammond Street.

The vehicle sped away from the scene, hitting a police cruiser and proceeding north on North Street where the occupants attempted to travel toward I-195 east where the vehicle crossed over the median and into a wooded area, where the operator and passenger fled the vehicle into the woods.

Officers then set up a perimeter around the area and conducted a search, where the Plymouth County Sheriff's police dog located Jorman Aybar, an 18 year-old from Dorchester. Shortly after, Joseph Herrera Rodriguez, also 18 and from Dorchester, was found in the same area.

Herrera Rodriguez was charged with breaking into a depository with intent to commit a felony, assault and battery, dangerous weapon larceny over $1200, failure to stop for a police officer, operating a motor vehicle to endanger marked lanes, and speeding.

Aybar was charged with breaking into a depository with intent to commit a felony and larceny over $1200.

Many agencies assisted the Mattapoisett Police with the search and arrests, including officers from Fairhaven, Rochester, Marion, the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office and K9 and the Massachusetts State Police patrol and air wing.

Police advise that anyone who has mailed checks into the outside depositories at the Mattapoisett Post Office check and monitor their accounts. They also request that any fraudulent activity be reported, adding that officers have already recovered some mail and will be in contact with any victims.

This case is considered ongoing by the Mattapoisett Police.