Mail theft reported by Monument-area residents
MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) -- Several residents in a newer neighborhood just southwest of town said that they're dealing with a series of mailbox thefts during the past four months.
According to a resident who said that his mail has been stolen three times, the thefts are occurring from community mailboxes at the entrance to the neighborhood, in Forest Lakes.
Affected residents said that they recently went to the Monument post office to report the thefts, and that the office postmaster explained someone is probably using a master key to access the mailboxes.
The postmaster, residents said, told them "Not much can be done about it," including changing the mailbox lock.
A USPS spokesman clarified the conversation Thursday, saying that the residents spoke not with the postmaster but with a postal emplotee.
The postmaster did not respond to a request for comment from KRDO NewsChannel 13.
However, a U.S. Postal Service official in Denver said that he has forwarded the matter to the Postal Inspection Service for further investigation.
Victims said that general mail and packages are being stolen.
"We've had credit cards stolen and personal gifts for my granddaughters," said Linda Schutz. "What's the value of stuff that's been stolen? Over $200 just in gifts -- but the value of the credit card, we had to close everything down and restart it because someone tried to use it."
Residents said that this isn't the first time mail thieves have targeted the neighborhood.
"A few years ago, before the mailboxes were bolted down, someone tied a rope around them and pulled them away," said Fred Frueh. "Our mailboxes aren't out in the open where they can easily be seen, as they are elsewhere in Forest Lakes. They're obscured by landscaping, they're not lighted well and there are no surveillance cameras."
Frueh suspects that the thefts happen at night, after most deliveries have been made.
"I'm especially concerned about mail theft with this being election season," he said. "Missing ballots could really become an issue."
Forest Lakes is just outside the Monument town limits, in unincorporated El Paso County; some victims would like more patrols from police of deputies until the Postal Service solves the case.
The Postal Service asks that anyone with information contact them, instead of calling local authorities or homeowners associations.
"(The HOA) said that it's not their job to provide security for community mailboxes," one resident explained.
Some resident said that they were unaware of the thefts and thought they simply haven't been mailed anything, or have mail missing for other reasons.
To contact the Postal Service, visit: https://www.usps.com/help/contact-us.htm.
The mail thefts have changed the routine for some victims.
"We're going to go tomorrow and have our mail held at the post office, and go in and collect it weekly," Schutz said. "Changing your address is such a big issue. But if it's problematic, we'll just get a post office box."
