By Araceli Sanchez  

Hand with open mailbox

Eastvale– Eastvale residents have expressed their concern regarding the mail thefts that have been occurring in City of Eastvale.

Recently, thefts have been reported off Spring and Nicole Court, on the side of Riverboat and King River, and up and down Tisdale. Many believe that the thefts have increased in the last month because of expected tax returns. However, these thefts have been going on for a long time and they are not unique to Eastvale. Mail thefts have been reported in Corona, Norco, Chino and other surrounding areas.

But local Police and the US Postal Service are adamant about stopping these thefts from occurring.

“The United States Postal Inspection Service will continue to bring violators to justice to secure the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Postal Inspector in Charge, Robert Wemyss in a statement. “Protecting the ability to use the mail in a safe and secure manner is at the core of the Postal Inspection Service’s mission,” he added.

“Mail theft and other property crimes are a rising problem and trend in this region,” said Corona Police Department Chief of Police Michael Abel. “We take these matters seriously and truly appreciate the joint cooperation in this prosecution. It’s important that we hold suspects such as these accountable for their actions.”

Local Police has already arrested five individuals for mail theft this month (see the Crime Recap article on page 11). The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has also issued a news release with the following tips on how to protect your mail from thieves:

• Use the letter slots inside your post office for your mail or personally hand it to a letter carrier.
• Don’t leave your mail in your mailbox overnight. Pick it up promptly after delivery. If you’re expecting checks, credit cards or other negotiable items, ask a friend or neighbor you trust to retrieve your mail.
• If you don’t receive a check or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately, without delay.
• If you change your address, immediately notify your Post Office and anyone with whom you do business through the U.S. mail.
• Don’t send cash in the mail.
• Tell your Post Office when you’ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.
• Report all suspected mail thefts to the Sheriff’s Department and a Postal Inspector.
• Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. Exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted neighbors and friends, you can watch each other’s mailboxes (and homes).
• Consult with your local Postmaster for the most up-to-date regulations on mailboxes, including the availability of locked centralized or curbside mailboxes.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department also reminds residents that if you witness a mail theft in progress, immediately contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 951-776-1099 and report the incident. Afterwards, contact the Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455.

In addition, if you are a victim of mail theft and your mailbox has been vandalized, the City of Eastvale is not one of the numbers you should call.

“The cluster mail boxes are not City property, nor do we pay for the repairs or maintenance,” said Daniella Badaeu, Eastvale Public Information Officer. “They are the responsibility of the individual homeowner(s) and the HOAs.”

If you do not have a Home Owner’s Association (HOA), you can also call the PMG Mailbox at (951) 288-3129 to repair or replace a mailbox. Some residents have even suggested to pitch in for a heavy duty mail box so it would be less likely for thieves to break into with pry bars or cutting tools.

Another resident suggested to ask PMG Mailbox to seal the outgoing mail slot to prevent thieves from stealing outgoing mail.

However, many residents are wondering why the U.S. Postal Service doesn’t pay to replace the new mailbox. NBC News reported that the U.S. Postal Service says covering replacement costs is financially unfeasible because they are not tax-dollar supported. The Postal Service said they support themselves with what they sell, just like any other business.

Having your own individual mailbox is also not an option because the Postal Service recently “phased out individual mail delivery in new housing communities as part of ongoing budget cuts,” according to NBC. “Doorstep delivery costs the USPS about $353 per address each year, while delivery to [cluster mailboxes] costs about $160 per address.”