Has anyone dealt with mail theft? An unscrupulous postal carrier or a neighbor with sticky fingers?

I've had a TON of stuff not arriving in the mail lately, and my mailbox has been empty for the past week. I *did* get a package delivered a few weeks ago...but it was slashed open. I guess the contents weren't stealable enough.

Anyone have any tips on how to catch the little bastards? I live in an apartment building, so I can't get my own locking mailbox. I'm probably going to wind up getting a P.O. box, but it would be nice if I didn't have to incur the extra expense because I have shady jerks for neighbors.

Anx said:

Go directly to your post office. Talk to the supervisor. Ask a friend if you can use their address as your mailing address but unfortunately, the best thing to do is get a P.O. box downtown so it doesn't even make it's way into the local carrier's hands.

i've read horror stories about thieving postal carriers, but i have other suspicions, since the theft has only started in the past month or so. i've lived in the same apartment for almost five years, and it's never been a problem until now.

get a nanny cam and see what's up

XxAxX said:

i TOTALLY thought about doing that.

Anx said:

You may have a new carrier. I use to live in a building with a mail carrier that used to come home with Netflix movies, people's magazines, all kinds of stuff she stole. Needless to say, her ass got caught.

I get everything posted to my parents' house now. I've had loads of mail go missing from my mailbox in the lobby.

Anx said:

won't help if they are stealing before it reaches your house.

Stymie said:

see, the ass-bite in question has been stealing stuff without a bit of subtlety lately...i think if i notify the post office and my landlord, they'll most likely get caught. one package that was stolen had delivery confirmation, so if it's a neighbor, they had to have pretended to sign as me, which is going to put them in a world of hurt because i can prove i wasn't home, and the handwriting will give it away as well.

also, one of my neighbors has been complaining about mail theft lately, too.

Anx said:

See the thing about delivery confirmation is they do not care if you are the person to sign or not. Have any packages you are expecting left at the post office for you to go and pick them up yourself.

Change your name to "May Contain Anthrax"

Stymie said:

yeah, but at least it's a paper trail to go on if i report mail theft, and that happens to be one of the stolen items. it's something to go on...probably not much.

GaryTheNoTrashCougar said:

i was thinking about mailing myself a small package that i poured ink into, so that whoever tries to open it gets a nasty surprise. even if it didn't leave a trail, at least the bastard would get some karma.

Anx said:

GaryTheNoTrashCougar said:

nah. i'd rather cause someone humiliation than physical pain. that's for bubba in cell block F to take care of.

GaryTheNoTrashCougar said:

You don't want to ARM them!!!!

Anx said:

like those ink bombs in clothing stores

or how about some talcum powder and label it anthrax?

Severe over reaction! You're mail wasn't ALL THAT! I'll put it all back it wasn't but a damn joke.... gees

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

what was in it? what was in it? what was in it?
pictures please!

charlottegelin said:

Love letters from a UNMENTIONABLE orger in Australia.... sick bastard..



He in fact should pay me for SPARING HIM from reading that crap himself.

sorry muse, but i can't laugh about this yet.

Anx said:

Oh yes...I've dealt with.
When I was living in my apartment.My weekly magazines would be late. When I finally got them,there would be drinking glass rings in them.
The last straw came when I ordered some comic books and they never came. I called the carriers manager daily. He was holding on to my stuff just to be mean,so I cussed him out. I dont recommend cussing him out though. Just contact the post office.

Want me to confront your mail carrier for you?
They fear me!

i called my building management over the weekend, and i reported my situation to the post office this morning. fortunately, i have a delivery confirmation number for the most expensive package that was stolen. i realize i'll still probably never see it or recover the worth of the item, but if they catch the asshole or assholes involved, that'll be almost as good as getting my stuff.

Send yourself a card (mail theives like cards because there could be money in them) and on the inside write, "I've reported the theft of my mail and you're being watched. Expect the authorities to contact you soon."

Maybe that will stop them.

Mazurack said:

I LOVE THAT!!!

Anx said:

It may not only stop the mail theft but it could possibly be sweet revenge by making them a paranoid mess!

Mazurack said:

if i could give the fucker a case of the lady macbeth blues, i'd be more than happy to oblige.

Anx said:

I've had lots of mail theft problems...and it always was the person(s) who lived downstairs from me. It's such a violation. Because of this I usually had stuff (packages, etc) sent to my mom's house. Do you know anyone who owns a house? Did you report it to the postmaster?

Anx said:

A few times I ordered things from companies that never arrived (i.e. were stolen by my asshole neighbors) and when I contacted the companies to tell them they sent replacement items -- at no charge -- to another address. Have you tried that?