SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Postal Service has seen an increase in mailbox break-ins in recent months.
The agency said mail thefts often increase around the holidays and after tax season, but the reason for the latest increase is unknown, according to Postal Inspector Michael Martinez-Partida.
“Typically you’ll see it at the cluster boxes - the large server boxes you'll see in communities or apartment complexes,” he said.
Suzanne Hildebrand’s Live Oak neighborhood has one such mailbox, which someone broke into in February and again on May 13.
“I first checked and thought surely I didn’t leave it unlocked,” said Hildebrand. “And then I checked and realized the lock was gone.”
KSAT 12 found several reports of similar mailbox break-ins posted on the Nextdoor app from various parts of San Antonio.
Martinez-Partida said the theft reports received by the Postal Service have received have not been concentrated to a certain area.
Most of the thefts are happening overnight, he added, so the best way to protect your mail is to collect it daily.
“If there's mail sitting in the box all night, it is just sitting there and can very likely be stolen,” he said.
Hildebrand called The Defenders after she says she waited months for her mailbox to be fixed.
After KSAT 12 emailed the Postal Service, her mailbox has been made whole, but her sense of security hasn't.
She's waiting on mail that she has yet to receive.
“It’s just an uncomfortable feeling to know that your personal information can be floating around out here,” Hildebrand said.
If someone breaks into your mailbox, report it to the Postal Service by calling 1-877-876-2455 or clicking here for additional information.