SAN ANTONIO – Residents in the Crownwood subdivision are on high alert after they had their mail stolen.
Aric Malsbury said he and his grandmother had their W-2 forms stolen this week from their mailbox.
“I do feel vulnerable and concerned that somebody could use my name and my Social Security,” Malsbury said.
Malsbury now has to visit the closest post office to retrieve his mail. He said he feels inconvenienced.
“Now, I have to drive to go get my mail instead of just getting it from my mailbox,” Malsbury said.
Malsbury isn’t the first resident in the subdivision to have experienced mail theft. The break-ins have happened at different cluster mailboxes around the area for the last two weeks.
Neighbors said it’s a problem that’s been going on for years, and it usually happens during tax season.
One concerned resident who did not want to be identified said the mailboxes are easy to pry open because they are more than 30 years old.
“We’re getting assaulted by petty thieves and criminals who think it’s easy prey for them to take our mail,” he said.
The unnamed resident said he believes the post office should install new cluster mailboxes around the neighborhood to provide better security for mail.
“These modern boxes are much easier to secure, much safer for our people’s mail,” he said.
Neighbors said nothing has been done about their current problem, and the cluster mailboxes are still damaged.
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s the times we live in. We need to stop it," the resident said.
The United States Postal Service said it will repair damaged mailboxes as soon as possible. It has released the following statement:
The United States Postal Service takes the security of mail very seriously and our goal is to provide the best possible experience for our valued customers. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have been experienced by customers living in the Crownwood subdivision with regards to their Centralized Box Unit (CBU). In every case, the Postal Service seeks to repair and/or replace a CBU as quickly as possible. If the CBU is determined to need replacement, the timeframe for completion can depend on the current supply of new boxes. Regarding the Crownwood subdivision, local postal officials are aware of the situation, and, at this time, are working to complete repairs as quickly as possible. We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to successfully resolve this issue. Customers are reminded that if they need assistance with mailing and delivery services, there are a variety of options for reaching us, including contacting their local Post Office, calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or visiting our website at www.usps.com/help.