Theft of mail

[wyzwigcards]

So something interesting occurred at my local post office.   Someone stole about 8 of my envelopes and orders and now the whole mailbox has been removed from the property.   The next day I notice an "Out of Order" sign on the big blue mailbox itself and then it was completely removed today, the whole box.    Is this a police issue or a post office issue?   Either way I have a bunch of customers who will never see their orders and I can file with my local police just not sure what outcome to expect.   Each letter had tracking on it and it's showing that it is going no where.   Hard to say

[toysaver]

Thieves put mouse glue traps in the big blues and fish out whatever they can.  I started going inside years ago.

[dogofwar777]

This has happened in my city. All the mail blue mail boxes have been removed all over the city with the exception of two I know about. Now folks have to go in and dump their letters. I don't mind it so much because it's more secure.

[billythekid16]

I am guessing that blue box outside your post office has been prone to theft and they may have decided to remove it - someone (not a post office employee) has the arrow key to open the box and has been grabbing as much mail inside, hoping there are checks in them that they can wash and cash.  Unfortunately the blue box in front of any post office are the ones thieves target the most.  Since the post office replaced the blue boxes with ones with a thin slot (so the thieves can't "fish"), the bad guys got mad that their way of "making a living" was taken away, and took the next step by assaulting any postal worker for their arrow key.

My strong recommendation: If you are physically able, and your post office is not far from where you live, go inside your post office lobby and drop off your paper mail in their "Stamped Mail" slot.  (No need to wait in line to give it to a clerk.)  This reduces your chances of your mail getting stolen.

Since hearing the news over the past few years of thieves "fishing" in the blue boxes, I have always make a trip to my local post office to drop off my paper mail, regardless if I am mailing checks or not.

[toysaver]

... and use gel ink pens that can't be washed off checks.

[cardsforauction]

WOW that's terrible, unfortunately the problem with those blue metal mailboxes placed outdoors have been a problem for many years, too much theft and damages.  That's probably why most of the mailboxes have been removed.  The best thing to do is always go inside the Post Office facility and drop off the mail.

[1786davycrockett]

@wyzwigcards 

Since you had only dropped your shipments into the exterior USPS "blue box," none of those items had received any tracking before being stolen -- so you will not be able to open any claims through USPS.

You should refund all your buyers, and explain that their items were stolen by postal thieves.

This is a USPS problem, and your local police department may not wish to become involved.

[toysaver]

"your local police department may not wish to become involved"

I'd contact both USPS and your local PD.  If a crime has been committed what police 'wish' to do is irrelevant.  If a victim comes forward they can't just shrug their shoulders.  Mail theft can be a felony depending on what is taken and where, statutes vary by state.   The 2 blue boxes near me are covered by security cameras from local businesses so whatever happened would be easy to uncover.  

[pcobra93]

Just noticed the PO removed a "blue" outside a retail center not more than a couple weeks ago here. I said something to the business owner there and he said it was just not there when he got to work one day....he was not sure if someone stole it or the PO got it....they never said a word to him. That was the last one I know of around here except the ones at the drive through at the PO.....but they have cameras looking at those.

[gloryglorygifts]

I had mail stolen from my own mailbox last year and this is how I handled it. (it was a woman that came here to do local pick up).  I voided all of the tracking numbers. I sent a notice out to all of the customers telling them what happened. Then, I replaced all of the items, uploaded the new tracking and took the loss to protect my rating on here. If you can't replace them, you should cancel the sale for out of stock and refund them. You will have to wait until the label void catches up with the system and then do it. Sigh. 

I would file with the USPS. Here's a link and hopefully it works: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Mail-Theft. You should also report it to the police, but they will probably only make a report since you do not have any video proof. 

I'm so sorry this happened to you. The thefts are one of the reasons why I have my carrier pick up from me every day. It's just one more thing to not worry about. Good luck. 

[ebeths_eclectic_collectibles]

USPS made an announcement a few months ago recommending all posted checks be dropped off inside the post office 

[chevymontecarlo88]

As others have stated, go to your local post office and speak with the post master. Filing a police report would be another step i would do. Good luck and sorry to hear it happened to you.

They have changed many of the big blue boxes that only accept letters. The slot is thin and very hard to fish items out of but give the crooks time and they will figure out a way. That being said, it always is best to either bring your mail into the post office or set up a mail pickup from USPS. That service(scheduled pickup)  is free (has some limitations) and the courier should be scanning your items once they pick it up. (not always) If you do choose scheduled pickups, make sure you have a good relationship with your courier and ask them to make sure they scan the packages. Many couriers don't scan them because of time but also do not know how it may effect your Ebay tracking.

-Good luck and hope they find those crooks. 🚔

[albertabrightalberta]

In our area, I don't know whether they replaced the whole mailboxes or just where the mail goes in but instead of a door that opens wide enough to allow insertion of a tool to fish out mail, they replaced it with the following. It ONLY accept flat envelopes. Any mail piece with thickness has to go to the p.o. or to a carrier.

The opening is a tiny slot with teeth that prevent thieves from being able to fish out mail.

[714ricki]

It's a USPS issue. Keep in mind, that the USPS may have removed the mailbox for many different reasons.....lack of volume, or other.

[b86fiero]

Recent national news outlets have reported numerous times of mail carriers being robbed of the key to the blue boxes.

That key opens all blue boxes in a given area / city / town according to news reports.

Thieves just go by at night, open the box and take the mail.

Many blue boxes have been removed across the country due to theft.

Sure seems to be a lot more theft of all types going on these days.