Two Santa Maria residents were arrested early Sunday for allegedly robbing a U.S. Postal Service carrier and stealing items from secured mailboxes, according to the Santa Maria Police Department.

Last Tuesday, officers investigated the robbery, at knife point, of a mail carrier in the city, Lt. Paul Van Meel said.

Mailbox keys were taken during the robbery, he said.

Over the next several days, police received multiple reports of mail and package thefts from secured mailboxes.

Shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday, investigators located the robbery suspect at a motel on North Preisker Lane.

“They discovered he matched the description of the mail-robbery suspect,” Van Meel said. “Further investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of items that were reported stolen from the secured mailboxes.”

Michael A. Cantero, 39, and a companion, Christina C. Pichardo, 37, were arrested on suspicion of several felonies, Van Meel said, including robbery and various theft-related crimes.

Both remained in custody Monday at the Northern Branch Jail, with bail set at $50,000 for Cantero and $20,000 for Pichardo.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 805.928.3781 x2278.