Mail Boxes at Several Local Post Offices Broken Into

Someone broke into the mail collection boxes at the post offices in La Grange, Plum and Warda. The break-ins happened sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning. Postal employees discovered the damage when they arrived for work Monday morning.

Silvia Torres, a spokesperson for the US Postal Inspection Service, said postal inspectors are investigating the break-ins. She said mail was taken from the boxes in La Grange and Warda. The collection box outside the Plum Post Office was damaged, but the thieves were unable to get inside and take any mail.

“At this time, it is unknown how many pieces of mail were taken,” Torres told the Record. “ Postal Inspectors are investigating these incidents but at this time it is unknown if they are connected or if there are additional boxes affected.”

The last collection time at the La Grange Post Office was 4 p.m. on Saturday. The last collection time in Warda was 10 a.m. on Saturday. Any mail dropped off at the boxes after those times on Saturday or on Sunday was likely intercepted by the thieves.

“To determine the scope of the issue, Postal Inspectors must rely on the reports by customers to identify any items taken following the vandalism,” Torres said.

Torres asked anyone who may be affected to file a mail theft report by calling (877) 876-2455 and saying “Theft,” or by visiting the website at www.uspis.gov/report, even if you have already reported it to local law enforcement.

“While the U.S. Mail remains one of the most secure means of transmitting information, it also contains items that are attractive to thieves,” Torres said. “Although mail theft does occur, there are steps postal customers can take to minimize becoming a victim. Don’t let incoming sit in your mailbox. Postal Inspectors recommend checking your mailbox every day and removing your mail as promptly as possible. The longer your mail stays in the mailbox, the more susceptible it is to theft.

“There are also steps customers can take to maintain the safety of their outgoing mail,” Torres added. “Customers can place their mail into the mail slot inside the lobby of their local post office. They can also place it into an official blue USPS collection box before the last collection time, which is displayed on the box.”

Torres said the protection of mail is one of her department’s primary focuses.

“We take every report of mail theft seriously,” Torres said. “We remind our customers that mail theft is a federal crime punishable by fines and up to five years in prison.”