YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — Two men in California have been arrested for allegedly stealing pieces of mail in Arizona and forging checks.

Francisco Hernandez, 28, and Raul Rodriguez, 38, are suspected of being involved in multiple "check washing" incidents in Yavapai County over the past several weeks.

Investigators have identified at least 15 victims allegedly affected by the suspects using chemicals to erase ink off checks, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

The scam was detected in Cottonwood on Dec. 1 after a bank employee noticed a check that looked altered and notified police. Cottonwood officers responded to the bank and detained two individuals.

YCSO said residents had been reporting that pieces of outbound mail were being stolen. Investigators determined that the

See Full Page