'Soft-spoken' mail carrier thwarts Piedmont burglary

Nestor Q. has been delivering mail for 14 years. 

"We're the eyes and the ears of the neighborhood," he told KTVU. 

And because of his sharp eye, the soft-spoken mail carrier is now somewhat of a celebrity, but just don't call him a hero. 

"They say I'm a hero, but I say, 'No, I'm just doing the right thing that I'm supposed to do,'" Nestor said. 

While working his regular loop Tuesday, Nestor noticed two men coming out of a house on Grand Avenue in Piedmont. They were carrying a large suitcase and a duffel bag. 

He thought t was suspicious as he knew the home owner had been hospitalized for some time and so he checked the house. 

"They punched a big hole in the door where they unlocked it from inside and I saw the bricks on the floor that makes me think it was a burglary," he said. 

Nestor got the license plate and had a neighbor call 911. Piedmont police responded and confirmed the break-in and the mail carrier identified the suspects.

Piedmont police said Nestor reported the crime and did an "excellent job." [He] was our eyes and ears from a distance. He used his telephone to support what we were trying to do by calling us and taking pictures. I don't think he ever put himself in harm's way," said Captain Chris Monahan with Piedmont Police. 

36-year-old James Mislap and 47-year-old Micheal Shea were arrested in Oakland and are awaiting charges from the Alameda County District Attorney's office. 

57-year-old Preston Gordon was arrested as an accomplice. All three men have long rap sheets. 

Neighbors are thrilled to have Nestor working their street. 

"People try to think about community and this guy's really doing it. that's pretty awesome, taking care of what's around and the community. It's priceless, to be honest with you," said Karl Leahy, a Piedmont resident. 

But the accolades didn't stop there.

"They know that carriers will keep their eyes and ears open for anything going on in that neighborhood, but our residents and customers also keep an eye on our carriers, so that's what's important," said Augustine Ruiz a U.S. Postal Service spokesperson.