Two women arrested in connection with Winter Garden mail theft

WINTER GARDEN  Two women were arrested last week on charges of loitering or prowling after four Winter Garden homeowners filed complaints with police on stolen mail.

Victoria Sabinath and Carol Haught are accused of stealing mail from residents in the area of the Glenview Springs, Garden Heights and Covington Chase subdivisions. According to an arrest report, Winter Garden police responded to a call Tuesday, March 21, regarding a suspicious vehicle. 

The van that matched the description of the vehicle homeowners had seen on surveillance video in relation to the ongoing mail theft, which began March 18.

The report stated that the officer found the van leaving the Garden Heights subdivision and stopped the suspects. He noticed the smell of cannabis coming from the van, with Sabinath and Haught inside. 

Upon questioning, Haught said that she drives around at night and picks up things curbside that people have thrown away. She also denied having drugs with her or in the vehicle, the report stated.

Police said Sabinath originally identified herself as Shannon Rothermel, and told them that she typically drives around with Haught picking things up curbside. Sabinath also denied knowing anything about drugs in the van.

Police saw a pile of unopened mail with addresses located in the Fullers Cross subdivision, the report stated, and officers arrested Haught and Sabinath for loitering and prowling.

After officers began searching the vehicle, they found a black sunglasses case with a pipe used for smoking narcotics inside, as well as a handbag filled with three baggies of cannabis, two baggies of methamphetamine, a white pipe and a clear straw.

Upon arrival at Orange County Jail, Sabinath revealed that she had given false identification. Police said she had an active Orange County warrant for possession of cocaine with no bond.

Both women were charged with loitering and prowling, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sabinath was also charged with providing false identification to law enforcement. 

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].