IRVING, TX - Two people were arrested Monday morning, January 26th, by Irving Police officers following a reported mail theft and fraud investigation at an apartment complex, as complaints of stolen mail continue to rise across the city.
Irving Police say 911 dispatch received a call reporting suspicious individuals going through residents’ mailboxes. Officers responded quickly and located two suspects at the scene, identified as Jacob Paul Brooks, 38, of Weatherford, and Shelbi Dominique Cook, 33, who most recently listed a Dallas address. Both were booked into the Irving Jail at approximately 8:36 a.m.
Police noted visible signs that Brooks appeared intoxicated or under the influence. During a search, officers found drug paraphernalia in his possession. Brooks is not an Irving resident and has a lengthy arrest history in Parker County.
A records check revealed Cook had multiple outstanding warrants, including three from Dallas County related to theft and drug possession, and three from Johnson County for theft and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Records show that Cook also has an extensive criminal history across Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties, primarily involving theft and narcotics offenses.
Court records show Cook pleaded guilty in November 2024 to drug charges involving amphetamine and methamphetamine and was sentenced to four years of deferred probation. With the new charges, she now faces the possibility of jail time. Authorities also noted a pattern in her criminal history involving repeated arrests while out on bond. At one point, she was listed among Tarrant County’s Top 10 Most Wanted. She will have to face charges in Tarrant County as well as she failed to appear in court on a theft and fraud case in February 2025.
Both suspects are being transferred to the Dallas County Jail, where they will await upcoming court proceedings. Now it's up to the District Attorney's Office and Courts to stop offering soft plea deals and punish these repeat offenders appropriately.
Mail theft has surged nationwide in recent years, driven largely by organized criminal groups targeting checks and personal identification for fraud schemes. Investigators continue to urge residents to report suspicious activity immediately and to safeguard outgoing mail.
The FBI recently issued a public announcement about the rise in mail theft. They offered the following tips on how to protect your mail:
- Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time.
- If you are heading out of town, submit a USPS Hold Mail™ request asking your local Post Office to hold your mail until you return.
- Sign up for Informed Delivery® at USPS.com to receive daily email notifications of incoming mail and packages.
- Contact the sender if you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail you are expecting.
- Consider buying and using security envelopes to conceal the contents of your mail.
- Use the letter slots inside your local Post Office to send mail. If using a blue USPS collection box, be sure to drop your mail as close to the posted pickup time as possible and before the last collection of the day.
