Gold coin theft from package at Wheaton UPS store sparks employee’s arrest, police say

Hyattsville woman allegedly sold stolen items at pawn shop

August 22, 2024 9:25 p.m.

A 26-year-old Hyattsville woman has been charged with stealing package contents while working for UPS and then selling them following an investigation into stolen gold coins, according to Montgomery County police.  

Adela Beatriz Orellana faces multiple counts related to the alleged theft of items inside packages she accepted as a UPS employee at stores in Wheaton and Rockville and for allegedly selling the stolen contents to local pawn shops, police said Thursday in a news release.  

According to court records, Orellana is being represented by Dyan Owens of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. The public defender’s office couldn’t be reached for comment on Thursday. 

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Detectives believe there may be other victims who sent packages through the Rockville and Wheaton UPS stores and are asking them to come forward, the release said.  

According to police, a man reported to police on Nov. 21 that he sent five gold coins through the UPS store at 11160 Viers Mills Road in Wheaton and when the package arrived at its destination, only two gold coins remained inside.  

After an investigation, detectives “developed” Orellana as the suspect, the release said. They also later determined that Orellana allegedly stole property from other packages and charged her with allegedly committing those thefts as well, according to police.  

The detectives applied for an arrest warrant on June 20 and Orellana turned herself in on June 26. She was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit in Rockville where she was released after posting bond, the release said. 

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