Rising Mail Theft Worries San Antonio Resident
A San Antonio woman residing in the Tanglewood neighborhood in northwest San Antonio expressed her frustration as she reported that her surveillance camera captured an instance of mail theft in May, but regretfully, no substantial progress has been made in resolving the case. Postal inspector leaders have warned that mail theft has been increasing not only across the country but also in San Antonio.
The woman, who identified herself as Sarah, disclosed that her family habitually places a hold on their mail delivery whenever they plan to travel. However, during Memorial Day weekend, due to an unexpected last-minute decision to travel, Sarah did not have an opportunity to request a mail hold. Assuredly, Sarah believed this would not pose a significant issue since her neighborhood had never experienced such an incident before.
According to Sarah, this occurrence marked the first time, in her six years of residence in the Tanglewood neighborhood, that her mail has been pilfered. To her dismay, she lamented that her neighborhood has been persistently targeted since then, causing mounting concerns for its residents. Sarah expressed, “Not just our road but throughout the entire neighborhood, so this seems like it’s really kind of ballooning.”
After promptly reporting the incident to both the San Antonio Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Sarah was disappointed to find no progress in the case even after more than a month had passed. Investigators informed her that apprehending the culprit would be arduous due to the absence of a captured license plate in her video footage.
Determined to inform her neighbors about the alarming theft, Sarah took to Nextdoor and shared her ordeal. Astonishingly, she discovered similar posts featuring what appeared to be the identical white van implicated in her surveillance footage, further affirming the magnitude of mail theft within their community. Sarah expressed her concern, stating, “Even if it’s not the same van, it’s mail theft that continues to happen in our neighborhood.”
Feeling disheartened and concerned for her family’s safety, Sarah is now contemplating the possibility of relocating to evade property crime altogether. She believes that by addressing and combatting these petty crimes effectively, the city of San Antonio can work towards preventing more significant issues in the future.
Amidst Sarah’s distress, the San Antonio Police Department assured her that the case remains an active investigation. Meanwhile, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been actively promoting various precautionary measures to thwart mail theft. USPS officials advise against sending cash through the mail, recommend checking mail daily, and encourage utilizing the option to place mail delivery on hold when away. Additionally, they urge residents to sign up for informed delivery, a service that provides notification of incoming mail.
In the unfortunate event that mail theft is suspected, it is crucial to promptly report it to both the local police authorities and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Combating mail theft is of utmost importance to safeguard the integrity of mail delivery and ensure the security and peace of mind of the community.
